Croatia thrash Czechia in World Cup qualifier

Luka Modrić and Mario Pašalić celebrate

Croatia continued their impressive start to FIFA World Cup qualifying with a convincing 5-1 victory over the Czechia on Monday night at the Opus Arena in Osijek.

This was just the third time the Vatreni have played at the newly built stadium, and they gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about once again.

Zlatko Dalić’s men came into the match full of confidence after their 7-0 rout over Gibraltar, and they picked up where they left off, dominating possession early on and taking control of the match from the outset.

Croatia thought they had opened the scoring in the first half when Joško Gvardiol volleyed in from a Luka Modrić free-kick. However, VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for offside against Mario Pašalić in the build-up.

1-0

That didn’t stop Croatia from pressing on, and they eventually broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Pašalić swung in a looping cross, which Gvardiol headed across goal for Andrej Kramarić to nod home from close range, giving Croatia a deserved 1-0 lead at the break.

1-1

The visitors hit back just before the hour mark. Croatia failed to deal with a corner, and West Ham’s Tomáš Souček took full advantage, heading in unmarked at the far post to level the score at 1-1.

2-1

But the response from Dalić’s side was swift. Just four minutes later, Ante Budimir was brought down inside the box, and Modrić calmly slotted home from the penalty spot to restore Croatia’s lead.

3-1

Ivan Perišić made it 3-1 shortly after, finishing clinically with his right foot from inside the area.

4-1

Budimir then got on the scoresheet himself in the 72nd minute, converting Croatia’s second penalty of the night to make it 4-1.

5-1

There was still time for one more piece of Modrić magic. The Croatia captain, earning his 188th cap, picked out Kramarić with a beautifully weighted through ball, and the striker made no mistake, slotting home to complete a commanding performance and round off a 5-1 scoreline.

Dalić also handed young 18-year-old prospect Luka Vušković his first international cap, bringing him on with five minutes to go.

Vušković is the first player to make his debut who was born after Modrić made his debut for his country. 

With two wins from two and 12 goals scored, Croatia sit top of Group L and look in fine form heading into the September fixture against the Faroe Islands.