Preview: Montenegro vs. Czech Republic - prediction, team news, lineups

Jaroslav Silhavy's side have enjoyed an unbeaten campaign in the ongoing 2024 European Championships qualifiers and are in pole position to secure their spot in Germany.

Match preview

After a promising start to the Euro 2024 qualifiers, underwhelming displays in their last two games has seen Montenegro's dreams of a first appearance at the continental tournament come under threat.

Miodrag Radulovic's men snapped their run of four consecutive games without a win in March's Group G opener, when they beat Bulgaria 1-0 courtesy of Nikola Krstovic's 77th-minute strike.

However, Montenegro were sent crashing back to earth three days later as Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic scored a second-half brace to hand Serbia a 2-0 victory in Podgorica.

The Brave Falcons returned to action in the Euro qualifiers on Saturday when they were held to a goalless draw by Hungary — a result which means they have now gone five straight home games without a win.

With four points from a possible nine, Montenegro are currently second in Group G, two points behind group leaders Serbia and level on points with second-placed Hungary, who have one game in hand.

They now take a break for the Euro qualifiers to face a Czech Republic side who have won each of their last four encounters, scoring nine goals and keeping four clean sheets since November 2011.

Silhavy's side put their European Championship qualifying campaign back on track on Saturday, when they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Faroe Islands at the Torsvollur.

Ladislav Krejci and Vaclav Cerny scored first-half goals to put the visitors in a commanding lead before Cerny netted his second of the game in the 75th minute to cap off a superb individual performance.

Prior to that, Czech Republic picked up a comfortable 3-1 victory over Poland in their qualifiers opener on March 24, three days before playing out a disposing goalless draw with Moldova at the Zimbru Stadium.

With seven points from three matches, the Locomotive currently sit top of Group E with a four-point lead over second-placed Albania, who have one game in hand.

Czech Republic will now look to pick up successive away wins for the first time since November 2021 after Saturday's result saw them end a run of seven consecutive away games without a win.

Montenegro friendly form:

Montenegro form (all competitions):

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D

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D

Czech Republic friendly form:

Czech Republic form (all competitions):

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W

Team News

Despite failing to find the target in each of his last nine games for Montenegro, skipper Stevan Jovetic should spearhead the Brave Falcons' attack on Tuesday.

The Hertha Berlin striker, who is currently the nation's all-time leading scorer with 31 goals, should form the two-man attack with 23-year-old Krstovic.

With 67 international appearances, Stefan Savic is third in Montenegro's all-time appearance chart — one behind Jovetic — and should team up with Igor Vujacic and Zarko Tomasevic in the back three.

Off the back of a dominant performance against Faroe Islands, Silhavy could name a similar side on Tuesday, with David Jurasek, Krejci, Tomas Holes and Vladimir Coufal forming the back four once again.

West Ham United man Tomas Soucek, who has 58 senior caps since his debut in November 2016, should wear the armband and form the midfield pivot with 25-year-old Alex Kral.

Cerny turned in an eye-catching display on Saturday and should retain his role in the final third, while Mojmir Chytil, who has three goals in four international outings, should challenge Jan Kuchta for the centre-forward role.

Montenegro possible starting lineup:

Mijatovic; Vujacic, Savic, Tomasevic; Vesovic, Jankovic, Scekic, Loncar, Vukcevic; Jovetic, Krstovic

Czech Republic possible starting lineup:

Pavlenka; Jurasek, Krejci, Holes, Coufal; Kral, Soucek; Jurecka, Hlozeck, Cerny; Chytil

We say: Montenegro 1-2 Czech Republic

While Montenegro will head into Tuesday in search of a morale-boosting result, they face a spirited Czech Republic side who have lost just one of their last six friendlies. We are backing Silhavy's men to pick up where they dropped off on Saturday and come out on top at the Podgorica City Stadium.

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