Mansion Sports – The final matchday of the World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers Group L will feature a meeting between Montenegro and Croatia. 

The fixture is scheduled to take place at Podgorica City Stadium on Monday, 17 November 2025 local time.

Team Conditions Ahead of the Match

Montenegro

Montenegro’s qualification campaign has been far from smooth. Their inconsistency—particularly in the defensive sector—has been a recurring issue. With nine points collected from three wins and four defeats, they sit in fourth place. 

A goal difference of minus eight, having scored six and conceded 14, highlights their major weaknesses at the back.

Even so, Montenegro’s home performances offer a glimmer of optimism. They have secured two victories from three matches in Podgorica. 

Their recent 2–1 win over Gibraltar also provided a significant morale boost, although their overall form in the last five matches still reflects two wins and three defeats.

In terms of qualification prospects, Montenegro have only managed one win in their last five group matches. Four losses within that run have eliminated them from playoff contention. 

Their match against Croatia now becomes an opportunity to close their campaign with a measure of dignity.

Croatia

Croatia have emerged as the dominant force in Group L. They remain unbeaten, securing six wins and one draw from their seven matches. 

With 19 points, they have officially become the 30th nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, marking their seventh appearance in the tournament.

Under Zlatko Dalić, the team has shown continuity in both performance and mentality—attributes that have been evident since their third-place finish at the 2022 World Cup and runner-up achievement in 2018. With 23 goals scored and only two conceded, Croatia possess the best record in the group.

Their recent form is equally strong, with four wins and one draw in their last five outings. The previous meeting with Montenegro ended in a comprehensive 4–0 victory, further underscoring the significant gap in quality between the sides.

Group L Standings

Predicted Line-Ups for Montenegro vs Croatia in November 2025

Below is the projected line-up for Montenegro and Croatia, including formations and head coaches.

Montenegro (4-4-2)

Risto Radunović is unlikely to start after being substituted early in the previous match, with Marko Perović expected to fill the left-back position. The midfield pair of Andrija Bulatović and Vasilije Adžić are predicted to retain their roles, while Krstović and Osmajic are expected to remain the leading duo in attack.

Montenegro Line-Up Table

Croatia (3-5-2)

Croatia are expected to deploy a similar line-up to their previous fixture against the Faroe Islands. Luka Modrić, despite being 40 years old, remains the central figure in midfield, while Mateo Kovačić continues to be unavailable due to injury.

Croatia Line-Up Table

This comprehensive overview outlines the conditions of both teams and the predicted line-ups for Montenegro vs Croatia in November 2025.