In a high-stakes international friendly held on June 7, 2026, at the Stadion Anđelko Herjavec in Varaždin, Croatia secured a narrow 2–1 victory over Slovenia. The match served as a final preparation for both sides ahead of their respective campaigns in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
First-Half Deadlock
The first half was a tactically disciplined affair. Both teams prioritized structure, resulting in a scoreless opening 45 minutes. While Croatia enjoyed patches of possession, Slovenia remained dangerous on the counter-attack, forcing a balanced start to the game.
Second-Half Surge
The match opened up significantly after the halftime break, with three goals scored in the second period:
51st Minute: Luka Modrić broke the deadlock for Croatia, firing a right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner following an assist from Ivan Perišić.
83rd Minute: Slovenia leveled the score, temporarily shifting the momentum in their favor.
90+3rd Minute: In the dying moments of the game, Mario Pašalić secured the win for Croatia with a right-footed strike from the center of the box, assisted by a headed pass from Josip Stanišić.
Key Match Stats & Takeaways
Venue: Stadion Anđelko Herjavec, Varaždin, Croatia.
Discipline: The match was hard-fought, with both teams making multiple substitutions throughout the second half to test their squads and adjust tactical approaches.
Performances: Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković was called into action several times, notably saving a dangerous attempt from Žan Vipotnik in the 61st minute.
The victory provides Croatia with a much-needed morale boost as they transition into the World Cup group stage, where they are scheduled to face England on June 17, 2026.