Czech Republic vs Croatia Prediction & Betting Tips (26 September)

The 2026–27 UEFA Nations League kicks off in style on 26 September 2026 as Czech Republic host Croatia at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45 CEST. The two sides know each other well after sharing Group L in World Cup qualifying, where Croatia ran out 5–1 winners in Osijek before a goalless draw in Prague, and both arrived here after experiencing the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. It is a new era for both teams: Czech Republic are led for the first time by Spanish coach Santi Denia, who named three debutants in his first squad, while Croatia begin life under returning boss Slaven Bilić, who has recalled Josip Mišić and handed a first call-up of the cycle to Dinamo Zagreb striker Dion Drena Beljo. The visitors remain captained by the evergreen Luka Modrić, who turns 41 this week and recently confirmed he will continue his international career.

Czech Republic's build-up to this opener has been mixed. Denia's men were eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage after a narrow defeat to South Korea in their opener, a 2-1 loss in which they took the lead before falling late on, followed by a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Atlanta, where Michal Sadílek's early opener was cancelled out by a late Teboho Mokoena penalty. Their tournament ended with a heavy 0-3 defeat to Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. The Czech squad for the 2026/2027 season is built around captain Ladislav Krejčí, midfield anchor Tomáš Souček and forwards Adam Hložek, Jan Kuchta and Mojmír Chytil, but Denia has been hit by injuries to David Zima, David Jurásek, Lukáš Provod and Tomáš Chorý, all of whom withdrew from this camp.

Croatia also endured a frustrating World Cup, exiting at the round of 32 at the hands of Portugal, but their group-stage form under Zlatko Dalić offered promise. After a slow start, Vatreni kept their knockout hopes alive with a narrow 1-0 win over Panama sealed by Ante Budimir's second-half strike, before booking their place in the last 32 with a 2-1 victory over Ghana, inspired by goals from Petar Sučić and Nikola Vlašić. Bilić's first squad of the new campaign blends experience with fresh energy: Dominik Livaković, Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pašalić, Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić provide the spine, while Petar Sučić, Luka Sučić, Martin Baturina and Igor Matanović push for bigger roles. Bilić has hinted he wants to unleash his deep pool of strikers, with Budimir, Franjo Ivanović, Matanović, Beljo, Marco Pašalić and Petar Musa all in the 26-man group for this congested four-game window.

In the European odds market, Croatia start as favourites for this Prague encounter, with an away win priced around 2.10, the draw at roughly 3.40 and a home win for Czech Republic offered at approximately 3.60 — figures that reflect Croatia's superior head-to-head record, having won four of the last six meetings between these sides. However, Czech Republic remain stubborn at home, unbeaten on their own turf in competitive action since 2022, and Denia's new-look side will be motivated to mark his first competitive match with a statement result. Our prediction is a narrow away win: Czech Republic 1-2 Croatia. Expect the hosts to battle hard through Souček and Krejčí, but Modrić's control in midfield, the creativity of Vlašić and Pašalić, and the predatory instincts of Kramarić or Budimir should ultimately tip a tight contest in favour of Bilić's men as they begin their Nations League Group A3 campaign with three poi