Overview
The home team Croatia won 3-0 against Gibraltar last month, thereby getting closer to the 2026 World Cup. They only need one more point against the Faroe Islands or Montenegro to officially secure a place in the tournament.
Coach Zlatko Dalic has led Croatia unbeaten in the last 6 matches, with 5 of them won. The Blazers have conceded just once in qualifying. And only 3 out of 12 groups have better defensive records than them.
On the attack front, Croatia have scored 20 goals in 6 qualifiers, surpassing their total goals in the previous 13 matches (18 goals).
Croatia has also maintained an unbeaten record at home in the last 10 matches, winning 9. In which, there were impressive victories against France and Poland, while also holding Portugal to a draw.
The Faroe Islands are one point behind the Czech Republic, currently in second place in the group. And another defeat will end their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The away team entered this match with impressive form. They have won their last three qualifying games and have won four of their last five.
Coach Eydun Klakstein's team has scored 10 goals in the qualifying campaign, including 7 goals from the last 3 matches.
The Faroe Islands' only previous match against Croatia came last month, and they were lucky to have conceded just once.
Personnel situation
Croatia will want to secure a ticket before the final match of the qualifiers. Therefore, it is likely that key stars such as Josko Gvardiol and Duje Caleta-Car will be present from the start in the defense.
Mateo Kovacic is often the priority choice for the midfield. However, he will be absent until at least February, giving veteran Luka Modric the opportunity to start.
Mario Pasalic, Andrej Kramaric and Toni Fruk are likely to be tasked with assisting centre-forward Franjo Ivanovic in attack.
For the Faroe Islands, they could deploy a three-man defence, with Odmar Faero, Gunnar Vatnhamar and Andrias Edmundsson as the main options.
Meinhard Olsen and Geza David Turi are likely to operate in midfield, supporting striker Joan Simun Edmundsson behind.
Expected lineup:
Croatia: Kotarski, Pasalic, Caleta-Car, Erlic, Gvardiol, Moro, Modric, Pasalic, Kramaric, Fruk, Ivanovic.
Faroe Islands: Lamhauge, Faero, Vatnhamar, Edmundsson, Benjamins, Olsen, Turi, Davidsen, Frederiksberg, Edmundsson, Sorensen.
The match between Croatia and the Faroe Islands takes place at 2:45 am on November 15 (Vietnam time).
