Croatia vs Czech Republic LIVE, Latest Score, Goals and UEFA Nations League Updates

Oddsmakers install host Croatia as solid odds-on favorites to finish the job and clinch third place in Group A3.

DraftKings prices Croatia at -180 on the three-way moneyline, with the draw at +300 and a Czechia road win at +425. On the goal handicap, Croatia stand at -0.5 (-180) against Czechia +0.5 (+145), paired with a 2.5-goal over/under line after three of their five historical meetings produced at least three total goals (2-2, 5-1 and 2-1).

Because a 0-0 or 1-1 draw eliminates Czechia automatically, the visitors cannot sit in a passive 5-4-1 block past the hour mark tonight.

In open play Czechia have scored only two goals across five Group A3 matches (one vs Croatia in Prague, one at Spain in October), making corner kicks and wide free kicks aimed toward 6-foot-4 Tomás Soucek and Ladislav Krejcí (4 shots) their highest-percentage weapon against Dominik Livakovic and Duje Caleta-Car.

Whenever Czechia commit wingbacks Vladimír Coufal and David Jurásek high into the final third after halftime, Croatia's counter-attacking lanes open wide for Ivan Perisic and Igor Matanovic.

Opened in 2023 on the banks of the Drava River in Osijek, the fully covered, steep-sided 13,005-seat Opus Arena generates some of the loudest acoustics anywhere in Balkan international soccer.

Playing in Slavonia rather than Zagreb or Split paid massive dividends when Croatia dismantled Czechia 5-1 here in June 2025. Cool November evening air in eastern Croatia keeps the natural grass surface crisp for Modric and Kovacic's one-touch midfield triangles, with touchline stands sitting just six meters from the pitch.

Compare Croatia's October collapse against England (a 7-0 loss on Oct. 3) with Thursday night's 2-1 battle away to England on Nov. 12 and the defensive tightening is unmistakable.

Four of Croatia's five Group A3 fixtures ended as one-goal contests: beating Czechia 2-1 away on Sept. 26, pushing Spain to a 2-1 finish at home on Oct. 6 and taking England down to the wire in a 2-1 defeat three nights ago. Playing back on home soil against an opponent outside the Spain-England bracket restores ball control to Modric, Kovacic and Martin Baturina.

Five consecutive defeats in a group alongside European champions Spain and England leave Czechia on zero points: 2-1 vs Croatia (Sept. 26), 2-0 vs England (Sept. 29), 3-1 at Spain (Oct. 3), 3-0 at England (Oct. 6) and Thursday night's 2-0 home loss to Spain on Nov. 12.

With striker Patrik Schick absent from the November roster, forward Adam Hlozek carries the attacking load, pacing the Czech Republic in both assists (2) and total shots (7) across five appearances alongside forward Christophe Kabongo and energetic midfielder Lukás Cerv (3 shots). Defender Jiri Sláma owns Czechia's other Group A3 goal across four outings, while West Ham United regulars Tomás Soucek and Vladimír Coufal provide aerial presence on dead balls.

Defensively, center-back Ladislav Krejcí leads the visitors with 144 accurate passes and 4 shots, flanked by Robin Hranác (133 passes) and Stepán Chaloupek (114 passes). Three Czech goalkeepers have split shot-stopping work across the campaign: Matej Kovár (7 saves), Antonín Kinsky (7 saves) and Lukás Hornícek (5 saves).

Enduring four consecutive Group A3 losses against heavyweights Spain (4-1 away, 2-1 home) and England (7-0 home, 2-1 away on Thursday, Nov. 12) has tested Croatia's generational transition, yet Dalic's veteran spine remains intact for tonight's survival match.

Evergreen captain Luka Modric (1 goal in five appearances) and rising midfielder Petar Sucic (1 goal in five matches) share top-scoring duties alongside wide stalwart Ivan Perisic, who paces the Vatreni in combined goal contributions with 1 goal, 2 assists and 6 shots across four outings. Tall striker Igor Matanovic leads the entire Croatian squad with 10 total shots plus 1 assist, giving Perisic and Josip Stanisic a prime aerial target inside the six-yard box.

Behind them, teenage center-back sensation Luka Vuskovic tops Croatia's passing chart with 206 accurate passes, partnered by Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic (196 accurate passes, 6 shots) and Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol (179 accurate passes) in front of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (9 saves).

History leans unmistakably toward the hosts across five previous international meetings, with Croatia unbeaten at 2 wins, 3 draws and 0 defeats against the Czechs.

More strikingly still, these two nations met right here in Osijek just 17 months ago during 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying on June 9, 2025, when Croatia tore Czechia apart in a 5-1 home rout! Four months after that five-goal explosion, they played out a 0-0 World Cup qualifying draw in Prague on Oct. 9, 2025, before Croatia returned to Prague seven weeks ago on Sept. 26, 2026 and claimed a 2-1 Nations League victory.

Their other two meetings both ended level at European Championships: 2-2 at Euro 2016 in Saint-Etienne and 1-1 at Euro 2020 in Glasgow.

Under UEFA Nations League rules, fourth place in League A suffers automatic relegation to League B, whereas third place enters a two-legged March relegation/promotion play-off against a League B runner-up.

Croatia enter tonight holding a three-point cushion (3 points vs 0) AND the head-to-head advantage thanks to their 2-1 road victory over Czechia in Prague on Matchday 1 back on Sept. 26. Consequently, either a Croatia win or a draw in Osijek guarantees third place for Zlatko Dalic's side and sends the Czechs straight down to League B.

For Czechia (Czech Republic), nothing short of an away victory works. Even a one-goal win in Osijek pulls both nations level on 3 points and 3 head-to-head points with level head-to-head goal difference: a two-goal Czech victory clinches third place outright on head-to-head goal difference, while a one-goal Czech win swings overall goal difference in Czechia's favor (-9 vs -12)!

Good afternoon and welcome to VAVEL USA's live minute-by-minute coverage of Croatia vs Czech Republic (Czechia) on Matchday 6 of League A Group A3 in the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League. Kick-off at Opus Arena in Osijek is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET (11:45 a.m. PT, 19:45 UTC and 20:45 CET local time).

Top-flight survival comes down to 90 decisive minutes in eastern Croatia.

With Spain (15 points, 5-0-0) and England (12 points, 4-0-1) already locking up the top two quarterfinal spots in a brutal Group A3, third-placed Croatia (3 points, 1-0-4, -11 goal difference) and fourth-placed Czechia (0 points, 0-0-5, -10 goal difference) battle directly to avoid automatic relegation to League B.

Verified starting lineups arrive 60 minutes before kick-off, followed by live updates of every goal, card, substitution and head-to-head relegation tiebreaker.