Croatia vs Czechia Prediction, Tips and Odds | Nations League

Croatia have lost four matches in a row, yet one point against winless Czechia at a sold-out Opus Arena on Sunday would be enough to keep them third in Nations League Group A3.

Czechia, who need a win of any margin to finish third and secure a March play-off, will be without suspended captain Ladislav Krejci when the game kicks off at 7:45pm UK time (8:45pm local) on 15 November.

Preview: Croatia vs Czechia

Slaven Bilic began his second spell as Croatia manager with a 2-1 win in Prague on 26 September, but Croatia have conceded 15 goals in the games since.

The 7-0 home defeat by England on 3 October in Rijeka was the heaviest in Croatia's history, and Bilic and his players have described it as a collective blackout.

Thursday's 2-1 defeat at Wembley was far closer, with Petar Sucic equalising in the 59th minute before Harry Kane's penalty five minutes later put England back in front.

Ivan Perisic returns from a one-match suspension after scoring against Spain in Split before his dismissal, which gives Croatia an experienced option in the final third.

Luka Modric, 41, won his 207th cap from the bench at Wembley, and Bilic must decide whether the captain starts in Osijek.

Czechia have lost all five games under Santi Denia, the first coach in their history who is not of Czechoslovak origin, and Thursday's 2-0 home defeat by Spain was the latest.

Discipline is the recurring problem, with Czechia finishing three of their five games with 10 men after red cards for Pavel Sulc against England and for Krejci twice against Spain.

Krejci was dismissed in the 69th minute on Thursday after Lukas Ambros had conceded a first-half penalty for handball, and Spain scored again in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

There were positives on Thursday, with Tomas Soucek back from an ankle ligament injury as a late substitute and 18-year-old Idris Hopi carving out two chances on his debut.

Denia has said Czechia will prepare for Croatia as they would for a World Cup final, and he insists the squad still believes in its path despite having no points.

Readers planning a wager on Sunday's game can use our ranking of the top 10 football betting sites to choose an operator.

Croatia vs Czechia team news and predicted lineups

Croatia team news

Andrej Kramaric asked to sit out this camp because of a knee problem, which leaves Igor Matanovic and Ante Budimir as the main options up front.

Josip Sutalo and Marin Pongracic are both injured, and Dinamo Zagreb defender Niko Galesic has received a first senior call-up to add depth at centre-back.

Luka Sucic withdrew from the squad through illness before the camp, and Lovro Majer was called up in his place.

Perisic is available after serving his suspension at Wembley, and no Croatia player is suspended for Sunday's game.

Bilic used a 3-4-2-1 at Wembley and a similar shape looks likely, with Perisic coming in for Martin Baturina behind Matanovic.

Croatia predicted lineup vs Czechia

Livakovic; Stanisic, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Smolcic, Kovacic, Misic, Vlasic; Sucic, Perisic; Matanovic

Czechia team news

Krejci is suspended after his dismissal on Thursday, and Czechia also remain without Patrik Schick, who retired from international football in June.

Michal Sadilek is available again after missing Thursday's game through yellow-card accumulation, while Soucek is fit after the ankle ligament injury that kept him out of the first four games.

Vladimir Coufal and Adam Hlozek both came through Thursday's game after arriving in camp with minor muscle problems.

Stepan Chaloupek is the likeliest replacement for Krejci at centre-back, with Hopi pushing for a starting place after his debut.

Denia fielded a back four, two holding midfielders and three attacking midfielders behind Ryan Naderi on Thursday, and a similar shape is expected on Sunday.

Lineups normally appear about an hour before kickoff, and readers considering a new account in the meantime can read our ranking of the best new sports betting sites.

Czechia predicted lineup vs Croatia

Kovar; Coufal, Zima, Chaloupek, Jurasek; Kral, Sadilek; Provod, Hlozek, Hopi; Naderi

Head-to-head: Croatia vs Czechia

Croatia are unbeaten in their seven meetings with Czechia, winning three and drawing four, though only one of those games has been played in the past year.

Croatia's 5-1 win at this ground in June 2025 is the heaviest in the series, although both teams have since changed manager.

Czechia held Croatia to a 0-0 draw in Prague in October 2025, and the sides also drew at the 2016 and 2021 European Championships.

In the most recent meeting, in September, Marco Pasalic headed in a 77th-minute winner after Adam Karabec had cancelled out Modric's opener.

Readers wanting extra value on a game with a clear favourite can compare the current betting sign up offers from UK bookmakers.

Our Croatia vs Czechia prediction and betting tips

Croatia have scored more than twice as many goals as Czechia in the group and have Perisic back, while Czechia must play without their captain, so a home win looks the most likely result.

Czechia have to attack to finish third, and a Croatia defence that has conceded 16 goals in five games should concede at least once, which points to a narrow home win rather than a rout.

The four selections below cover the goals line, both teams scoring, a Perisic goal and a Croatia win, and readers wanting a full breakdown of the football markets can see our bet365 bookie review.