Croatia vs Faroe Islands Prediction: Croats to clinch qualification with Rijeka victory

Croatia are on the cusp of qualifying for next year’s World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the USA. All Zlatko Dalic’s side needs to do is avoid defeat on Friday (19:45 GMT) against the Faroe Islands, but that’s easier said than done as they only won the reverse fixture 1-0 in September.

Friday's visitors to Stadion HNK Rijeka are still in contention for a play-off place, although with the Czech Republic playing Gibraltar in their final Group L game, that appears unlikely. Below are my Croatia vs Faroe Islands predictions, accompanied by the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who started Croatia's last game, a 3-0 victory over Gibraltar on October 12, is out injured so hasn't been called up by Dalic.

Kovacic's Man City teammate, Josko Gvardiol, should start on Friday, though, alongside AC Milan's Luke Modric and Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramaric, with Dalic keen to wrap up qualification before next Monday's trip to Montenegro.

Football Odds

The Faroe Islands, who stunned the Czech Republic 2-1 last month, could hand a start to Aarhus Fremad defender Martin Agnarsson, who began the 4-0 victory over Montenegro on October 9 before coming off the bench and scoring the winner against the Czechs.

Croatia vs Faroe Islands Odds

Croatia, unbeaten in their six qualifiers (W5, D1), are 1/10 to triumph on Friday, implying a 90.9% probability of success, while the Faroe Islands are 25/1, or a 3.8% chance, to secure a famous victory in Rijeka, with the draw priced at 8/1.

Match Result & Total Goals Over/Under 3.5 - Croatia & Under 3.5 @ 5/6

Croatia have enjoyed a few big wins in qualifying, thrashing Gibraltar 7-0 in Faro/Loule, as well as beating the Czech Republic and Montenegro 5-1 and 4-0, respectively, on home soil.

However, they only beat the Faroes 1-0 in September's reverse fixture, and in their October internationals, followed up a goalless draw away to the Czechs with a 3-0 home victory over Gibraltar.

So, three of their last four games, including their first meeting with the Faroes, have featured three or fewer goals.

Today's Football Fixtures

Friday's visitors to Rijeka began their qualification campaign poorly, losing three of their first four matches (W1), but they've now won their last three, including surprise victories over Montenegro and the Czech Republic.

Six of their seven qualifiers have finished with three or fewer goals, and if you extend back to June 11, 2024, when they lost 1-0 to Latvia, 13 of their last 15 games have gone under 3.5 goals.

Bet Builder - Hanus Sorensen (FAR) Total Shots - 1+, Josko Gvardiol (CRO) Total Shots on Target - 1+ @ 7/2

Hanus Sorensen is the Faroe Islands' top goalscorer in qualifying with three goals, and all three strikes came last month as he followed up a brace against Montenegro with an effort against the Czech Republic.

The 24-year-old is averaging 1.6 shots per game in Group L, and he's recorded two in five of his seven appearances, including his last four, the first of which was September's reverse fixture with Croatia.

Croatia's Gvardiol has only played three times in qualifying, starting just twice, but in the first of those starts, he forced a save from Czech Republic goalkeeper Matej Kovar.

The Man City defender may have only scored three times in 44 caps for his country, but he averaged 0.5 shots on target per game in Croatia's 2024/25 Uefa Nations League campaign (scoring once), and struck five times in last season's Premier League for the Citizens.