Luka Sučić scored against Real Madrid in a La Liga match, one of several news items surrounding the Croatia national football team. Alongside this, the team's path at the 2026 World Cup is being analyzed ahead of upcoming qualifiers.
Croatian midfielder Luka Sučić scored the only goal for Real Sociedad in a heavy 4:1 defeat to Real Madrid. His left-footed strike in the 45th minute equalized to 1:1 and temporarily silenced the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Sučić showed good vision with his passing in the second half, but his team could not turn the game around. Real Madrid took control after the break, with Kylian Mbappé shining with a hat-trick. Despite the loss, Sučić's performance against one of the world's best clubs is noted positively.
The Vatreni's performance at the 2026 World Cup is being analyzed. Croatia beat Panama and Ghana in Group L but lost 4:2 to England. This gave them 6 points from three games and second place in the group. In the round of 32, the team was eliminated by Portugal with a 2:1 scoreline in Toronto after taking the lead. The analysis highlights key players like Andrej Kramarić, the team's second all-time top scorer, and the experienced Ivan Perišić. Young defender Luka Vusković, who scored his first international goal, is also mentioned. Currently, the Vatreni have a goal difference of 5:5 in qualifying, and their last result was a 2:1 loss to Portugal on July 2nd.
The Croatian national team departed from Dr. Franjo Tudjman Airport for Prague. The team was traveling for the seventh round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Czechia. The photo depicts former goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa during the departure. This image is a reminder of the continuous preparation, and the team now faces its next match against the same Czechia side on September 26, 2026. After two consecutive losses in their last five matches, the Vatreni will aim to return to winning ways. The current standings and detailed stats are available on our standings page.
Heavy disciplinary sanctions were issued for Argentine players after a brawl following the 2026 World Cup final. Leandro Paredes was given a record 10-match suspension, the harshest penalty in the tournament's history. The sanctions followed physical assaults on Spanish players. This FIFA decision is compared to previous cases, like that of Croatia's Josip Šimunić in 2013, who also received a 10-match ban. For Croatia, often an example of discipline, this news serves as a reminder of the importance of sporting behavior at major tournaments. The squad lineup and their statistics are always available on our squad page. With the upcoming match against Czechia, the Vatreni's focus is now entirely on the pitch. With a record of 2 wins and 3 losses in their last five games, the team has a chance to improve its form in an important away fixture.
