Croatia secured a 2-1 victory over Slovenia in a tightly contested friendly on Saturday, with substitute Mario Pasalic delivering the decisive blow in stoppage time.
Late drama in Varazdin
The scoring opened with Croatia captain Luka Modric opening the scoring in the 51st minute, a strike that marked his 29th international goal in 198 appearances for his nation.
Slovenia responded swiftly, leveling the contest in the 83rd minute when Andraz Sporar found the net, forcing the game into a tense finish.
With minutes ticking down, Pasalic, who had come off the bench, seized the moment, slotting home a stoppage-time winner that sent the Croatian bench into celebration.
World Cup preparations
The win comes at a crucial juncture as Croatia gear up for their opening World Cup fixture against England in Dallas on June 17, a match that will kick off their Group L campaign.
Group L will also see Croatia face Ghana and Panama, a lineup that promises competitive encounters as the team looks to build momentum.
Earlier in the week, Croatia had endured a 2-0 warm‑up defeat to Belgium, but the friendly win over Slovenia offers a morale boost as the squad fine‑tunes tactics and chemistry ahead of the tournament.