“Croatia made three changes at half-time — introducing Baturina, Matanović, and Sučić — signalling a tactical refresh after a first half that produced little in the way of clear-cut chances.”
“Luka Modrić broke the deadlock to put Croatia ahead, a moment that underlined the veteran midfielder's enduring influence on this national side.”
Pivotal“Andraž Sporar capitalised on one of Slovenia's big chances to equalise and drag his side back into the match with seven minutes remaining.”
Pivotal“Mario Pašalić restored Croatia's lead in stoppage time, converting to break Slovenian hearts and seal a hard-fought 2-1 win for the hosts.”
Pivotal
Croatia
Slovenia
Outstanding performance
Croatia•DefenderCroatia dominated this friendly from start to finish in terms of possession and territory — 67% of the ball, 22 shots, and 89% pass accuracy painted the picture of a side firmly in control — yet they struggled to convert that dominance into goals until the second half. The deadlock was broken on 51 minutes by the enduring presence of Luka Modrić, who, even at 40, still found a way to make his mark and put Croatia ahead. Slovenia, limited to just 33% possession and playing on the counter, showed character when substitute Andraž Sporar levelled on 83 minutes, capitalising on one of Slovenia's two big chances to stun the hosts. The drama was short-lived, however, as fellow substitute Mario Pašalić delivered the winner in the 90th minute, rewarding Croatia's persistent pressure and confirming the gulf in class between the two nations. For Croatia, the result is a timely confidence boost ahead of what promises to be a busy summer period, while Slovenia will take some heart from their resilience even in defeat.
How entertaining was this match?
Croatia host regional rivals Slovenia in their last friendly before the 2026 World Cup, making this a crucial final dress rehearsal for Zlatko Dalić's side. With World Cup preparations entering their final phase and a trip to their Alexandria base camp looming, Croatia will be keen to sharpen their combinations — while Slovenia will look to cause an upset against their most frequent international opponent.
