Croatia produced an impressive comeback on home soil to secure their place at yet another World Cup. With one qualifying match still to play, the 2018 runners-up confirmed their ticket with a commanding 3–1 victory over the Faroe Islands. If all goes as expected, the upcoming edition will be Luka Modrić’s fifth World Cup, a milestone that further cements his legendary status in Croatian football history.
The evening began with a shock for the hosts. In the 16th minute, David Turi put the visitors ahead, stunning the home crowd. Croatia, however, refused to panic. Just seven minutes later, defender Joško Gvardiol brought parity with a decisive finish, restoring momentum for the home side.
While the first half ended level, Croatia came out stronger after the break. In the 57th minute, striker Petar Musa found the back of the net to make it 2–1. With pressure mounting on the Faroe Islands, substitute Nikola Vlašić sealed the win in the 70th minute, ensuring Croatia’s qualification in style.
With this result, Croatia sit atop Group L with 19 points from seven matches. The Faroe Islands, having completed all eight fixtures, finish their campaign on 12 points.
📊 Match Summary
| Team | Goals | Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| Croatia | ৩ | Gvardiol, Musa, Vlašić |
| Faroe Islands | ১ | Turi |
| Group L Overview | Croatia | Faroe Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | ৭ | ৮ |
| Points | ১৯ | ১২ |
| Qualification | Qualified | Eliminated |
Croatia will play their final qualifier on Monday night against Montenegro—a match that now serves as preparation rather than pressure. For Modrić and his teammates, the focus has already shifted to the global stage ahead.