Croatia secure World Cup spot with win over Faroe Islands

RIJEKA – Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was a relieved man as his side booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with an unconvincing 3-1 win over the in-form Faroe Islands on Nov 14, while the Netherlands all but secured their spot in the Finals too.

But Germany’s direct qualification hopes still rest on their final Group A match on Nov 17 at home to Slovakia, despite a Nick Woltemade brace giving them a laboured 2-0 win at Luxembourg.

“Another World Cup, congratulations to the boys and thank you to everyone who supported us. It was a tough match, but in the end, we won and relaxed,” said Dalic.

“We were under pressure for three or four months, but we resolved it and we move on. We did not open well today, we made a lot of mistakes. The Faroe Islands are a very difficult team that runs a lot and is aggressive.

“All the successes we’ve had were achieved with four players on the backline. We won’t play with three any more, anyone can say whatever they want. That doesn’t suit us, it takes a long time to get going. I know what made me a coach.”

After Geza David Turi had given the islanders a shock lead, strikes from Josko Gvardiol, Petar Musa and Nikola Vlasic in Rijeka handed 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia their ticket to the Finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Victory gave Croatia a six-point lead over the Czech Republic at the top of Group L with a single game left.

“For Croatia, for the fans!” a jubilant Gvardiol posted on his X account. But it was a night when the underdogs struck fear into their more illustrious opponents, although without managing to strike a telling blow.

The Faroe Islands, who were on a three-match winning run and still harboured faint hopes of qualification, took a shock lead in the 16th minute against Croatia, who needed only a draw to progress.

However, it lasted only seven minutes before Manchester City defender Gvardiol lashed in an equaliser after some hesitant defending by the North Atlantic team.

With the evergreen Luka Modric still pulling the strings in Croatia’s midfield at 40 on his 193rd appearance, the hosts gradually took control.

And 12 minutes into the second half, Musa fired in at the near post to settle Croatian nerves.

With the Faroes’ hopes of becoming the smallest nation to reach a World Cup fading fast, Vlasic drove the knife in deeper 20 minutes from time with a cushioned volley to beat goalkeeper Mattias Lamhauge, who had strayed into no man’s land.

Modric will lead Croatia at his 10th major international tournament and fifth World Cup in 2026. The long-time No. 10 was key to their runner-up finish in 2018 and bronze in 2022.

The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has featured in four World Cups (2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022) and five European Championships and is closing in on the 200-cap mark at the 2026 tournament.

“The number sounds unreal, and I hope my health holds up and that I will be there. Ten is a special number for me and I hope we achieve a good result,” he said.

“I am not obsessed with numbers, but it would be nice to reach that (double century). It is nice to hear and I am proud of everything I have achieved with the national team.”

In the same group, Liam Jessop’s 20th-minute strike threatened to give Gibraltar a first-ever victory – or even draw – in a major tournament qualification match, but Vasilije Adzic and Nikola Krstovic ensured Montenegro avoided a shock defeat to triumph 2-1.

The Dutch, meanwhile, relied on Memphis Depay’s record-extending 55th international goal to help push them to the brink of qualification with a 1-1 draw in Poland.

Jakub Kaminski had given Poland hope of pipping the Netherlands to top spot in Group G two minutes before the break in Warsaw, latching onto Robert Lewandowski’s through ball to slot past Bart Verbruggen.

But two minutes after the restart, Depay struck to maintain his team’s three-point lead at the top, and a massive goal difference advantage of 13 that makes qualification at home to Lithuania on Nov 17 a formality.

In Group A, four-time World Cup winners Germany are level on points with second-placed Slovakia, who beat Northern Ireland 1-0 at home, but have a better goal difference with one match left to play.

The top two face off in Leipzig on Nov 17 with Germany guaranteed direct qualification if they avoid defeat. AFP, REUTERS