Croatia host Czech Republic in Nations League finale in Osijek
Croatia host bottom-placed Czech Republic at the Opus Arena in Osijek on 15 November, with third place in Nations League Group A3 at stake. Team news inside.
Livefeed News DeskUpdated · 2 min read
Quick answer
Croatia face the Czech Republic at the Opus Arena in Osijek on Sunday 15 November 2026 in their last Nations League Group A3 match. Croatia are third on three points and cannot reach the quarter-finals, while the pointless Czechs can only overtake them with a win.
Key facts
- The match is at the Opus Arena in Osijek on 15 November 2026.
- Croatia are third in Group A3 with three points from five games and cannot reach the quarter-finals.
- The Czech Republic have lost all five group games and scored only two goals.
- Croatia won the first meeting 2-1 in Prague.
- Luka Modric could win his 208th cap.
What is at stake in Osijek
Croatia and the Czech Republic close their Group A3 campaigns on Sunday night at the Opus Arena in Osijek. Croatia have one win and four defeats from five games, which leaves them third on three points. They cannot finish in the top two and so cannot reach the quarter-finals.
Slaven Bilic's side will take third place if they avoid defeat. The Czech Republic are bottom on zero points from five matches and will finish fourth unless they win. Sports Mole says the Czechs are facing relegation to League B, where they last played in 2024-25.
How the two teams got here
Croatia opened with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in Prague, then lost twice to Spain and twice to England. The most recent defeat was a 2-1 loss to England. One of those results was a 7-0 home defeat by England, according to Telecom Asia Sport.
The Czech Republic have lost to Croatia, England twice and Spain twice, the latest a 2-0 defeat by Spain on Thursday. They have scored just twice in five matches, which Sports Mole puts down to a lack of a reliable goalscorer. Telecom Asia Sport adds that they have conceded at least two goals in six consecutive matches.
Team news
Croatia have no suspensions. Ivan Perisic returns after a ban for the England game, and Luka Modric, 41, could start after coming off the bench last time, which would be his 208th cap. Igor Matanovic is expected to lead the line. Bilic called up 25 players, including first-time picks Simun Hrgovic and Marin Sotiček of Hajduk. Lovro Majer, Petar Musa, Karlo Letica and Toni Fruk are out injured.
The Czechs will be without centre-back Ladislav Krejci, who picked up his second red card of the competition against Spain. Coach Santi Denia has replaced Miroslav Koubek and has named two debutants, 18-year-old forward Idris Hopi and midfielder David Kozel. Tomas Soucek is back for the first time since the summer, while Pavel Sulc and Adam Karabec miss the window.
Head to head
The teams have met seven times and the Czechs have never won. Sports Mole counts four Croatia wins and three draws, while Telecom Asia Sport lists three wins and four draws, so the exact split is unclear. The sources carry no result for Sunday's match.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Croatia vs Czech Republic being played?
At the Opus Arena in Osijek, Croatia, on Sunday 15 November 2026.
Can Croatia still reach the Nations League quarter-finals?
No. Croatia sit third in Group A3 and cannot finish in the top two.
What does the Czech Republic need?
A win. They have no points from five games and finish fourth unless they beat Croatia.
Who is Croatia's coach?
Slaven Bilic.
