Croatia and the Czech Republic will get their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaigns underway when they meet at Prague's Fortuna Arena in League A Group 3 on Saturday.
Both sides will have new managers in the dugout following disappointing World Cup campaigns.
The Czechs have replaced Miroslav Koubek with Santi Denia after finishing bottom of their group in North America, while Slaven Bilic has returned for a second spell in charge of Croatia, succeeding the long-serving Zlatko Dalic.
With World Cup winners Spain and England also in their group, Saturday's match already has the feeling of a must-not-lose for both sides, as they may end up scrapping it out to avoid finishing bottom of the section.
Czech Republic v Croatia Tips Summary
Best Bet - Croatia to win 21/20
Alternative Bet - Under 0.5 Czech Republic goals @ 9/4
Bet Builder - Both teams to score - No, Ante Budimir anytime scorer & Ladislav Krejci 1+ shots @ 15/1
Czech Republic v Croatia Prediction
Best Bet: Croatia to win @ 21/20
The departure of Dalic may have signalled the end of arguably Croatia's most successful era, but they have turned to a familiar face in Bilic and their squad is still packed full of experience, not least in captain Luka Modric, who is set to win his 203rd cap on Saturday.
It was an underwhelming World Cup for Croatia, who bowed out in the first knockout round to Portugal, but they reached the finals in impressive fashion, winning seven and losing none of their eight qualifying matches.
That sequence included a 5-1 thrashing of the Czech Republic on home soil in June 2025 and although it finished 0-0 in the return match in Prague four months later, there is still a considerable gap between the two sides.
Croatia have never lost in six previous meetings with Saturday's hosts and the Czechs are in need of a rebuild after a dismal World Cup that saw them pick up just a solitary point from matches against South Korea, South Africa and Mexico.
Key forward Patrik Schick retired from international football following this summer's tournament and new head coach Denia, whose only previous senior managerial role was an unsuccessful 13-game spell in charge of Qatari club Al-Shahania, has work to do.
Croatia are a more settled side and the 2023 UEFA Nations League runners-up can open their latest campaign with a victory.
Alternative Bet: Under 0.5 Czech Republic goals @ 9/4
The retirement of Schick and the absence of Tomas Soucek through injury means there is a distinct lack of goals in this Czech Republic squad.
Those two players have scored 43 international goals between them, while the 26 men named in Denia's first squad have only 28 goals combined.
Captain and centre-back Ladislav Krejci is responsible for six of those goals, while forwards Adam Hlozek and Pavel Sulc are the only other members of the squad to have scored more than twice.
Against an experienced Croatia side that conceded only four goals in qualifying for the World Cup, it is difficult to see the Czechs breaking down their opponents, even in front of their own supporters in Prague.
Czech Republic v Croatia Bet Builder Tip
Both teams to score - No
Ante Budimir anytime scorer
Ladislav Krejci 1+ shots
Pays 15/1
It finished 0-0 when these two sides last met - a match that also took place at the Fortuna Arena - and given the lack of goals in the Czech squad, it is difficult to see both teams finding the back of the net on Saturday.
However, one man that can trouble the scoresheet is Croatia's in-form forward Ante Budimir.
The Osasuna front man has started the season in impressive fashion, scoring five goals in his opening seven La Liga games, following on from last season's eye-catching total of 17.
Czech skipper Krejci will be tasked with keeping Budimir quiet, but the Wolves defender can also pose a threat at the other end.
Not only has Krejci scored six goals in 30 international appearances, but he averages nearly one in five at club level across his career and has found the back of the net in the Championship already this season despite featuring just twice.
A goal in this game may be beyond the 27-year-old, but after firing off five shots and scoring at the World Cup over the summer, he is capable of having at least one effort on goal.
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Key Match Stats
Croatia are unbeaten in their six previous meetings with the Czech Republic.
In two meetings during qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Croatia won 5-1 on home soil and drew 0-0 in Prague.
The 26 players named in the Czech Republic's squad have scored just 28 goals at international level combined.
Slaven Bilic is back for a second stint as Croatia head coach; he won 42 of his 65 games in charge during his first spell.
Czech Republic are winless in their last five competitive internationals inside 90 minutes.
Croatia have lost four of their last seven matches.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
