CRO 5-1 CZE; Hosts Run Riot In Late Goal Spree

Hello and welcome to everyone joining us tonight. The FIFA World Cup European qualifiers have Group L heavyweights Croatia and Czechia facing off, and we will bring to you the build-up and live updates from the encounter.

The FIFA World Cup European 2026 qualifying match between Croatia and Czechia will kick off at 12:15am IST. It will be live streamed on the SonyLiv app and website in India and telecast on the Sony Sports Network TV channels in the country.

The teams news is in. Let us take a look at how Croatia and Czech Republic line up ahead of kick-off at Optus Arena:

Czechia are in superior form heading into tonight’s encounter, as they have six wins and two draws in their previous eight games. Hosts Croatia, on the other hand, have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six outings.

The two teams stride out to the pitch, along with the referees. Croatia and Czechia’s national anthems being played as is customary. Kick-off right after.

The game gets underway in Osijek. Croatia attacking from right to left and Czech Republic from left to right in the first half. The hosts create an early chance but nothing comes off it.

Josko Gvardiol seems to have put Croatia ahead in the 11th minute, but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review. Home team’s custodian Dominik Livakovic, then, denies Patrik Schick. We are goalless after the first 20 minutes.

Elsewhere, Belgium have raced to a 3-0 lead against Wales in their FIFA World Cup qualifying clash. A 15th-minute penalty by Romelu Lukaku was followed by Youri Tielemans’ goal in the 19th minute, and then Jeremy Doku’s strike in the 27th.

Andrej Kramaric heads it in! Croatia go ahead in the 42nd minute after Josko Gvardiol’s headed pass finds Kramaric at the goalmouth and the forward makes no mistake. The half-time whistle blows after three minutes of added time and it’s the hosts who head into the interval with a slender but vital one-goal lead.

The second half gets underway. Croatia now attacking from left to right and Czech Republic from right to left.

Czechia equalise! Tomas Soucek nods in Ladislav Krejci’s headed pass after a corner to bring the game back on level terms in the 58th minute.

What a response from the hosts! They garner a penalty barely a minute after Czechia equalise, and Luka Modric steps up to take it. The Croatia captain chips it coolly into the roof of the net and puts his team in the lead once again.

Croatia have another! Their opening goal-scorer Andrej Kramaric sets it up for Ivan Perisic, whose right-footed shot from the centre of the box finds the bottom left corner of the Czechia goal.

Croatia are rampant! The wheels seem to have come off for the visitors, who have conceded three goals inside 10 minutes. Tomas Holes is booked for a handball and a penalty is awarded to the hosts. This time, Ante Budimir takes the spot kick and sends it into the bottom left corner with his left foot.

The party continues for Croatia. It’s a proper rout now and Czechia don’t know what’s happening to them. Skipper Luka Modric delivers an accurate through ball and Andrej Kramaric easily slots it in to score his second goal of the night. The hosts score their fourth goal in 13 minutes, and are on their way to a big win.

The beleaguered Italy lead 2-0 against Moldova in their FIFA World Cup qualifying game. Moldova put them under pressure early, and continue to create chances in the final few minutes. But the Azzurri are ahead in what is sacked coach Luciano Spalletti’s final game with the side.

The final whistle is blown and Czech Republic are put out of their misery. A late goal spree by Croatia means the visitors go down 1-5 in what was a far more evenly-matched game in the first 60 minutes.

Belgium edged out Wales 4-3 in a thrilling finish, with Kevin de Bruyne netting the winner in the 88th minute. Italy blanked Moldova 2-0, Faroe Islands beat Gibraltar 2-1 and Norway defeated Estonia 1-0. In the earlier game of the evening, North Macedonia had gotten the better of Kazakhstan 1-0.