Match Preview: Croatia vs Slovenia - prediction, team news, live stream

Slovenia's Stubborn Challenge Awaits Faltering Croatia in Varazdin Friendly

Croatia returns to Gradski stadion Varazdin for a friendly fixture against regional rivals Slovenia, with recent results suggesting this might not be the straightforward preparation match many would anticipate. For those looking to catch the action, the Croatia vs Slovenia live stream will show a Croatian side that has stumbled in their last two friendlies, conceding five goals and scoring just one. Against a Slovenian outfit that has historically proven resilient, securing a draw in their last encounter, this match is poised to be more than just a training exercise, especially with the data-backed prediction pointing towards a Slovenia win or draw.

Match Details

• Competition: Friendlies
• Venue: Gradski stadion Varazdin, None
• Kick-off: Sunday, 07 June 2026 • 19:45 UK Time
• Referee: None

Current Form

Croatia's recent friendly record raises questions, despite a strong run in World Cup qualifiers. They suffered a 0-2 defeat to Belgium and a 1-3 loss to Brazil in their two most recent friendly outings, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities against top-tier opposition. While a 2-1 victory over Colombia did offer a glimmer of attacking threat, these recent performances contrast sharply with their dominant World Cup Qualification wins against Montenegro (3-2) and Faroe Islands (3-1), suggesting a struggle to adapt to the higher intensity and tactical demands of competitive friendlies.

Slovenia, on the other hand, presents a more varied, if not entirely convincing, run of form. Their most recent friendly saw a disappointing 1-1 draw against Cyprus, following a 3-2 victory over Montenegro and a 0-1 loss to Hungary. In World Cup Qualification, a 1-1 draw against Sweden demonstrated their capacity for resilience, but a preceding 0-2 loss to Kosovo indicates an inconsistency that makes them difficult to predict. They arrive in Varazdin with a mixed bag of results, yet a clear ability to compete against stronger teams.

Team News

With no major injuries reported for either squad, both managers have their full complement of players to choose from, offering ample opportunity for squad rotation. For Croatia, the midfield engine room of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic will be central to their build-up play, dictating tempo and providing creative impetus, potentially alongside the driving runs of Mario Pasalic or Lovro Majer. Defensively, the presence of Josko Gvardiol and Josip Sutalo offers a solid, if recently tested, base. Up front, Andrej Kramaric and Ante Budimir will vie for central attacking roles, with Ivan Perisic's versatility a valuable asset from a wide midfield position.

Slovenia will likely counter with a strong defensive spine, anchored by Jaka Bijol. In midfield, Adam Čerin and Jasmin Kurtić provide a blend of defensive solidity and progressive passing, essential for breaking up Croatian attacks and launching their own. Attackers such as Andraž Šporar and Benjamin Verbič will be key to their transitional play, offering pace and directness. Given the absence of injury concerns, both sides can experiment with formations and personnel, balancing tactical exploration with the need to build confidence.

Head to Head

The recent history between these two nations paints a picture of competitive, often tight encounters. Their last meeting in March 2022 resulted in a 1-1 draw, a testament to Slovenia's ability to stand firm against their more illustrious neighbours. Prior to that, Croatia secured a comfortable 3-0 victory in September 2021, but Slovenia had previously edged out Croatia with a 1-0 win in March 2021. This sequence of results demonstrates that while Croatia often holds the technical edge, Slovenia consistently poses a credible threat and knows how to make life difficult, particularly when adopting a disciplined defensive approach.

Tactical Breakdown

Croatia will undoubtedly aim to dominate possession, leveraging the exquisite positional play of Modric and Kovacic in a double pivot to control the midfield. Their build-up shape will involve centre-backs like Gvardiol carrying the ball forward, looking to penetrate Slovenia's defensive lines through the half-spaces or by switching play to exploit wide channels via inverted wingers or overlapping fullbacks like Stanisic. However,