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It's two wins from two for Josip Stanišić and the Croatian national team! Coach Zlatko Dalic's side thrashed the Czech Republic 5-1 in their World Cup qualifier on Monday evening and continued their impressive run on the road to the 2026 finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The hosts, buoyed by their rousing 7-0 opening win over Gibraltar, took on the group leaders in Osijek with great purpose right from the start. After Joško Gvardiol's opener was ruled to be offside, Andrej Kramarić gave his side a deserved lead with a header in the 42nd minute. After the break, Tomáš Souček made it 1-1 with a header from a corner in the 58th minute.
Stanišić plays full 90 minutes
The Czechs, who had made a strong start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, were then taken apart in the second half: Captain Luka Modrić converted confidently from the spot in the 63rd minute after Ante Budimir had been brought down in the box. Former Bayern player Ivan Perišić increased the lead to 3-1 with a low right-footed shot (68'). Budimir added a fourth with another penalty in the 72nd minute, before Kramarić made it 5-1 on 75 minutes with an elegant finish - his second goal of the evening.
At full-time, the scoreboard displayed a comprehensive 5-1 win - a statement that shows Croatia to be a top side who should be taken seriously in the battle for a place at the 2026 World Cup, while it was the Czech Republic’s first defeat in qualifying after three opening wins. Bayern defender Stanišić played the whole 90 minutes.
How the other internationals went:
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