Gibraltar vs Croatia Preview, Prediction, News and odds: 6/6/2025

On Friday, June 6, 2025, Gibraltar will host Croatia at 19:45 in a Group 5 fixture of the ongoing UEFA World Cup Qualifiers. The matchup brings together two sides in vastly different positions: Gibraltar, still in search of their first point, face a Croatian squad eager to recover from recent setbacks and strengthen their path toward qualification.

With contrasting histories and expectations, the encounter is expected to be a one-sided affair on paper, but offers both teams specific goals—Croatia seek a decisive win to restore momentum and increase goal difference, while Gibraltar aim to prove they can hold their own against elite European competition.

Gibraltar Overview

Gibraltar have faced considerable challenges in their current qualifying campaign. After two matches, they remain at the bottom of Group 5 without a point. Their most recent outing, a 4-0 home defeat to the Czech Republic, exposed defensive vulnerabilities and emphasized the difficulty of competing against experienced European opponents.

In total, Gibraltar have conceded seven goals while scoring only once in this qualification cycle. This record highlights the dual challenge they face in both attack and defense. Ranked fifth in their group, Gibraltar’s qualification hopes are already under significant pressure, and upcoming fixtures present little room for recovery.

Despite their struggles, the team has demonstrated some resilience in recent non-competitive fixtures. In their last five matches across all competitions, Gibraltar have drawn three and lost two. While victories remain elusive, these draws in friendly matches show that the team is capable of organized, compact performances that can frustrate opponents, especially when the intensity is lower.

Tactically, Gibraltar are expected to prioritize defensive structure and look for rare opportunities to counter. Their manager’s likely strategy will involve deep lines, disciplined marking, and long passes to exploit space behind Croatia’s defense—although consistent attacking phases may be hard to establish.

Croatia Overview

Croatia arrive in Gibraltar with an experienced squad and a track record of performing well in qualification campaigns. While their recent form across all competitions has been uneven—one win, two draws, and two losses—their performance in World Cup Qualifying matches remains strong. Including results from the previous qualification cycle, Croatia have secured four wins and a draw from their last five competitive outings.

Their most recent qualifier saw them edge out Russia 1-0 in a tightly contested match, showcasing their ability to grind out results even when not at full throttle. More recently, Croatia were eliminated by France in a penalty shootout following a 2-0 loss in regular time, a result that, while disappointing, came against a top-ranked side and doesn’t fully reflect their potential.

Under the guidance of head coach Zlatko Dalić, Croatia are likely to approach the Gibraltar match with a focus on restoring rhythm, maximizing goal differential, and rotating their squad to maintain fitness. Dalić, who has led the national team to deep runs in recent international tournaments, is expected to deploy a tactically sound system that emphasizes possession, width, and relentless pressure in the attacking third.

With high-quality players across all positions, Croatia will be expected to dominate possession, control the tempo, and generate consistent scoring chances. The match presents an opportunity not just to win, but to build confidence ahead of tougher upcoming fixtures in the group.

Gibraltar vs Croatia Head-to-Head

Gibraltar and Croatia have only met once before in official competition. That match ended in a 4-0 win for Croatia on home soil, reflecting the wide gulf in quality between the two teams. Although the sample size is small, the result offers a realistic indicator of what to expect in their second meeting.

Croatia’s historical pedigree in World Cup Qualifying contrasts sharply with Gibraltar’s limited experience in these tournaments. With seasoned players and a successful qualification track record, Croatia enter the match as overwhelming favorites to replicate their earlier result.

Current Form and Recent Matches

Gibraltar’s last five games have produced three draws and two defeats. While these results show some progress in maintaining structure during friendlies, the team continues to struggle when facing competitive opposition. Their 4-0 loss to the Czech Republic in qualifying highlighted ongoing issues in both defensive coordination and attacking fluidity.

Croatia’s recent record is more complex. Despite inconsistent results—one win, two draws, two losses—the context of those games matters. Facing elite opponents like France and Spain, Croatia have shown flashes of quality but lacked consistency. Nevertheless, their recent win in World Cup Qualifying and overall depth suggest they remain well-positioned to secure routine victories against lower-ranked teams.

Gibraltar vs Croatia Betting odds

The betting markets reflect the lopsided expectations for this match. Croatia are listed at 1.02 for the win (Melbet), while a draw carries odds of 23.00 (Paripesa). Gibraltar, considered long shots, are offered at 95.00 (1win) for an outright win.

In the “Both Teams to Score” category, “No” is heavily favored at 1.13 (Paripesa), while “Yes” is set at 5.90 (Melbet). These odds are consistent with recent form, where Gibraltar have struggled to score and Croatia have regularly maintained clean sheets against weaker opponents.

To improve betting returns, bettors might consider handicap options, such as Croatia winning by three or more goals. With a likely dominant performance, correct score markets or over 3.5 total goals bets could also offer more rewarding opportunities.

Additionally, several top betting platforms are promoting welcome offers, including free bets on first deposits. These promotions may provide added value for new users interested in placing wagers on one-sided fixtures like Gibraltar vs Croatia.

Prediction

Heading into this match, Croatia’s primary objective will be to secure a convincing win while potentially rotating key players. The visitors will likely look to control the pace early, stretch Gibraltar’s defense with width and movement, and apply sustained pressure in the final third.

For Gibraltar, success will be measured less by the final score and more by their ability to remain compact, delay Croatia’s buildup, and avoid heavy defeat. A disciplined defensive approach and minimal risk on the ball will be central to their game plan.

While upsets remain part of football’s unpredictability, the scenario for this match points clearly toward a decisive Croatian win. The disparity in technical ability, experience, and tactical execution is considerable.

Prediction: Croatia 3 – 0 Gibraltar / Over 3.5 Goals