The Croatian national team, led by the timeless Luka Modric, once again showcased its dominance in the UEFA qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup with a resounding 4-0 victory over Montenegro. The win not only keeps Croatia at the top of their group but also brings their captain closer to making history: playing in his fifth World Cup at the age of 40 years and 9 months.

How did the match against Montenegro unfold?

The game in Zagreb was a one-sided affair. Croatia opened the scoring through Kristijan Jakic, who finished off a brilliant assist from Modric. Andrej Kramaric doubled the lead, before second-half goals from Lovro Majer and Ivan Perisic sealed the 4-0 scoreline.

Montenegro never managed to contain Croatia’s fluid attack or create any real danger of their own. With this result, Zlatko Dalić’s side has now taken 12 points from 12 available, confirming a perfect start to their qualifying campaign.

What would World Cup qualification mean for Luka Modric?

Should Croatia secure its place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Modric would play in the tournament at nearly 41 years old. It would be his fifth World Cup appearance, after featuring in 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022 (Croatia did not qualify in 2010).

For the Balkan nation, it would also mark their seventh World Cup appearance since independence in 1991, further solidifying their status as one of Europe’s most consistent performers on the international stage.

How did the rest of Europe fare on matchday?

Elsewhere, Kosovo stunned Sweden with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Vedat Muriqi (Mallorca) and Elvis Rexhbecaj (Augsburg), complicating matters for the Swedes despite star power from Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, recent signings for Liverpool and Arsenal.

Switzerland cruised to a 3-0 win over Slovenia, while both Denmark and Scotland earned victories in a tightly contested Group C.

Meanwhile, in one of the most thrilling games of the round, Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy edged Israel 5-4, with a Moise Kean brace and a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Sandro Tonali, keeping them in the race with Norway for top spot in Group I.