Croatia will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers when they lock horns with Slovenia at Stadion Poljud in an interesting Group H fixture on Tuesday with kickoff at 21:45.
Croatia returned to winning ways last Saturday in a hard-fought match against a dogged Slovakian side. The match ended in a 1-0 victory for the Blazers with Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic scoring the winner four minutes to time.
The Croat were coming off a solid 0-0 draw against Russia last week and the Slovakian win saw them maintain their unbeaten run in WC qualifiers since suffering 1-0 defeat to their Tuesday’s opponents in the opening fixture back in March.
Zlatko Dalic’s side currently occupies the second position in Group H standings with 10 points level on points and goal difference with group leaders Russia and Dalic will be expecting and hoping that his side will emerge with a strong win here as they aim for a top finish.
Meanwhile Slovenia also heads into the clash off the back of a 1-0 home win against Malta last weekend with FC Lugano midfielder Sandi converting his spot kick in at the end of the first half. Slovenes struggled to find their rhythm in attack in the match but eventually managed to secure their first win in the qualifiers since beating Croatia in the opening match.
Matjaz Kek’s side currently sit in the third spot in the group’s table with seven points in five matches and only three points behind Russia and Croatia. The Slovenes are certainly on an upward trajectory now and will look to maintain that as aim to salvage something here.
However, they have been poor travelers in the qualifiers as they lost back-to-back away matches suffering 2-1 in the hands of Russia before the shocking 1-0 defeat in Cyprus.
Croatia vs Slovenia head to head
Both sides have met in six occasions since 1995 with Croatia obviously being the better side with four victories while Slovenia have only claimed one victory and there have drawn once.
- Slovenia 1-0 Croatia 24/03/21
- Slovenia 2-3 Croatia 20/08/08
- Slovenia 0-1 Croatia 19/11/03
- Croatia 1-1 Slovenia 15/11/03
- Slovenia 1-2 Croatia 15/11/95
Home
- Slovakia 0-1 Croatia
- Russia 0-0 Croatia
- Croatia 3-5 Spain
- Croatia 3-1 Scotland
- Croatia 1-1 Czech Republic
Away
- Slovenia 1-0 Malta
- Slovenia 1-1 Slovakia
- Slovenia 6-0 Gibraltar
- North Macedonia 1-1 Slovenia
- Cyprus 1-0 Slovenia
Croatia team news
Duje Caleta-Car still remains the only doubt for the home side.
Slovenia team news
Kek named a 25-man squad an everyone is available for the Tuesday’s clash.
Prediction and odds
- Croatia win
- Both sides to win
- Goals over 2.5
