Croatia concluded preparations for the World Cup with a victory against Slovenia
The Croatia national football team defeated Slovenia 2:1 in a friendly match played on June 7, 2026, in Varaždin, thus completing its final test before leaving for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America. According to ESPN's report, the match was decided in stoppage time, after Mario Pašalić scored in the 90+3rd minute for Croatia's victory. Captain Luka Modrić put Zlatko Dalić's team ahead in the 51st minute, while Andraž Šporar equalized for Slovenia in the 83rd minute, according to data from the 11v11 report and the match flow published by FOX Sports.
Modrić opened the scoring, Pašalić decided it in stoppage time
The duel at the City Stadium in Varaždin had the competitive rhythm often sought in the final warm-up matches before a major tournament. Croatia, according to FOX Sports data, played in a 4-2-3-1 system, and the starting lineup included Dominik Livaković, Josip Stanišić, Martin Erlić, Marin Pongračić, Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić, Luka Modrić, Marco Pašalić, Andrej Kramarić, Ivan Perišić and Ante Budimir. Slovenia played under the leadership of head coach Boštjan Cesar, with Jan Oblak as captain and with the attacking tandem Danijel Sturm - Žan Vipotnik.
The first half ended without goals, although both teams had periods in which they reached the final third. FOX Sports' match flow records attempts by Ante Budimir, Mateo Kovačić, Ivan Perišić and Slovenian players Sandi Lovrić, Žan Vipotnik and Danijel Sturm. Croatia took the lead shortly after the break, when Luka Modrić scored in the 51st minute after an assist from Ivan Perišić. That goal carried additional symbolism because it came in the national team's final test, still led by Modrić as captain and one of the key players in Dalić's team.
During the second half, Dalić made a larger number of substitutions, which was in line with the head coach's announcements before the match. According to FOX Sports data, Croatia introduced Martin Baturina, Igor Matanović and Petar Sučić at halftime, while Mario Pašalić came on instead of Luka Modrić in the 57th minute. It was Pašalić, who in the closing stages took on an important role in midfield and in arriving into the penalty area, who used his chance in the third minute of stoppage time and scored for the final 2:1. ESPN states in its report that the winning goal was scored with a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area, with Josip Stanišić assisting with his head.
Slovenia punished a lapse in concentration, but Croatia responded
In Varaždin, Slovenia showed why Dalić had emphasized in his preview that the opponent would try to create problems for Croatia. Although the match had no competitive stakes, the Slovenian national team remained organized and patient, especially after Croatia's lead. According to the 11v11 report, the equalizing goal was scored by Andraž Šporar in the 83rd minute. FOX Sports also records that goal as a key moment of the closing stages, after which it seemed the match would end in a draw.
For Croatia, that development was an important test of reaction in the final minutes. Instead of allowing the match to end without a winner, Dalić's team once again looked for space toward the Slovenian penalty area and waited for the situation from which Mario Pašalić brought the victory. Such moments in friendly matches do not bring points, but they can have psychological value ahead of a tournament, especially when they come after a demanding preparation period and a defeat to Belgium in the previous test.
Croatia lost to Belgium 0:2 in Rijeka on June 2, and after that match the Croatian Football Federation conveyed the assessments of the national team players that there had been good periods in the game, but also things that needed to be improved. Nikola Vlašić then emphasized that it was a friendly match and that the team had to gel before the World Cup, while Petar Musa spoke about mistakes from which Belgium came to score. In that context, the victory against Slovenia was important both as a response in terms of result and as confirmation that Croatia can find a solution in the late phase of a match.
Dalić sought a test of the system and rhythm before the trip
The Croatian Football Federation emphasized in the match preview that the encounter with Slovenia was the final test before leaving for the World Cup. The Croatian Football Federation stated that the national team had completed the Rijeka part of its preparations before arriving in Varaždin and that the match came two days before departure for the world showpiece. Head coach Zlatko Dalić said the day before, according to the Croatian Football Federation, that he was satisfied with the training sessions completed, but also that the match with Slovenia provided an opportunity to try new things.
In the same preview, Dalić also spoke about a change of system, the need for some players to return to competitive rhythm and the roles of Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić and Joško Gvardiol in the final phase of preparations. According to the Croatian Football Federation, the head coach explained that the defeat to Belgium had disturbed the impression, but that there was no room for dramatization because the aim of the warm-up matches was to give minutes to a wider group of players. Croatia did exactly that against Slovenia: the starting lineup was a combination of proven leaders and players fighting for minutes, while the second half brought additional changes in midfield and attack.
Ahead of the match, Josip Stanišić, according to a Croatian Football Federation post, emphasized that Croatia enters every match with the same approach and desire to win. That message received confirmation precisely in the closing stages of the Varaždin encounter. Stanišić also took part in the decisive move, because ESPN states that he assisted with his head for Mario Pašalić's winning goal. For Dalić's coaching staff, that is a useful detail because it relates to a player who is important in the defensive structure, but also to a national team player who increasingly influences play in the attacking phase.
Varaždin as the final stop before the world showpiece
The match was played at the City Stadium in Varaždin, a stadium that is also listed in international services as Stadion Varteks. The Croatian Football Federation had earlier announced that the encounter with Slovenia was scheduled for June 7 at 20:45, after Croatia had played its first June test against Belgium on June 2 at Rujevica. Varaždin thus became the national team's final domestic stop before the journey to North America.
Warm-up matches immediately before a major tournament are often viewed on several levels. The result is important for atmosphere and confidence, but coaching staffs primarily seek rhythm, minutes for players returning after a demanding club season and confirmation of tactical solutions. Against Slovenia, Croatia got exactly that kind of match: demanding enough to reveal problems, but also open enough to show the team's reaction after conceding a goal.
In a broader context, Croatia heads to the 2026 World Cup with a great legacy from previous editions. In its preview of the duel with Slovenia, the Croatian Football Federation recalled that the national team won silver in Russia in 2018 and bronze in Qatar in 2022 at the two most recent World Cups. Those results create high expectations, but also further explain why every warm-up match is seen as part of a larger process, and not just as an isolated friendly encounter.
A group with England, Ghana and Panama
According to FIFA data, Croatia will play at the 2026 World Cup in Group L with England, Ghana and Panama. FIFA states that this is a group in which national teams with very different profiles meet, from England as a former world champion and one of the most followed teams of the tournament, through Croatia as the 2018 finalist, to Ghana and Panama, which bring different physical and tactical challenges. Such a schedule means that Dalić's team will be exposed to a match of the highest intensity right at the start of the tournament.
FIFA's schedule shows that Croatia opens the competition on June 17 against England at Dallas Stadium. After that comes the match with Panama on June 23 at Toronto Stadium, while the final group match against Ghana is scheduled for June 27 at Philadelphia Stadium. In that sequence, the friendly victory against Slovenia will not by itself change assessments of Croatia's range, but it gives the team a calmer end to preparations and a positive result before the trip.
The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest edition of the tournament so far, and FIFA states that 104 matches will be played in 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America. In such a format, squad depth and the ability to adapt will be especially important. Through the June tests, Dalić sought to expand options, check relationships in midfield and find a balance between the experience of the team's leaders and the energy of younger players.
A victory without euphoria, but with a clear message
Croatia leaves Varaždin carrying not only the result, but also several concrete conclusions. Modrić's goal showed that the captain can still directly influence a match, Perišić's assist confirmed his importance in the final third, and Mario Pašalić's entrance provided another reminder of his sense for arriving from the second line. In addition, Stanišić's role in the winning goal showed how important full-backs can be in situations when a match is decided by details.
At the same time, Slovenia's equalizer in the 83rd minute remains a warning. Croatia allowed the opponent back into the match in the closing stages, which is a segment that will have to be reduced to the smallest possible measure against rivals from Group L. England, Ghana and Panama will bring different demands, from high tempo and individual quality to transition play and physical duels, so concentration in the final phases of matches will be an important part of Croatia's performance at the tournament.
The 2:1 victory can therefore be read as a useful final signal, but not as a reason for excessive conclusions. Friendly matches have limited value compared with official matches, but they can reveal the mood, readiness and reaction of a team under pressure. Croatia conceded a late goal in Varaždin, but managed to respond even later. Ahead of departure for the World Cup, precisely that response was the most important message of the final test.
Sources:
- ESPN – report on the Croatia - Slovenia match, final result and description of the winning goal (link)
- FOX Sports – match flow, scorers, substitutions, formations and basic statistics of the encounter in Varaždin (link)
- 11v11 – match record of Croatia - Slovenia with date, stadium, head coaches, scorers and starting lineups (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – preview of the final test against Slovenia and the context of departure for the World Cup (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – statements by Zlatko Dalić on the completion of the Rijeka preparations, the system of play and the match with Slovenia (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – statements by Josip Stanišić ahead of the match with Slovenia (link)
- FIFA – overview of Group L, Croatia's schedule and the format of the 2026 World Cup (link)