Cyprus Vs Croatia Betting Tip: Croatia/Under 3.5 Goals – 8 October 2021

Cyprus Vs Croatia

Friday, 8 October 2021 – 19:45 (BST)
World Cup Qualifier
Pick: Croatia Win & Under 3.5 Goals
Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Betfair Bet Builder
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 5 October 2021)

Preview: Boasting exact opposite records, Group H’s bottom side Cyprus host table-toppers Croatia at AEK Arena in Larnaca seeking to avoid making it three defeats from three in head to head meetings, having lost narrowly in Zagreb first time around.

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Cyprus – Scoring issues persist? 

Having already frustrated Slovakia and Slovenia in Larnaca, can Cyprus, who are ranked fifth out of the six teams in Group H but currently sit bottom by virtue of their inferior goal difference with Malta, deny leaders Croatia three points? A lousy record in front of goal thus far strongly suggests otherwise, failing to score in four of five qualifying matches (W1 D1 L4) including twice as hosts.

One of those barren outings was at home to Russia, going down 2-0. With Croatia twenty places better off in the latest FIFA rankings, and having lost both previous head to heads without scoring, dare I say the writing is on the wall. Especially when taking their abysmal recent run into consideration. They’ve lost each of their past five internationals – all without scoring – scoring once in the last nine (W1 D1 L7).

Key stat: Each of the past seven defeats sustained by Cyprus – including all four in this qualifying campaign – were to nil.

 

 

Croatia – Blazers over their early wobble?

Following a rocky start, losing their opening qualifying match 1-0 in Ljubljana away to Slovenia, 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia have turned things right around to lead the way in Group H. Zlatko Dalic has seen his team sweep up ten of twelve available points since that shock loss, recording four successive clean sheets in the process in a run which has seen them shut out Russia and Slovakia on their own patches.

All four Croatian victories so far have been accompanied by a clean sheet. Meanwhile, six of the eight goals scored were in the second half. This includes Marcel Brozovic’s late winner in their most recent away qualifier against Slovakia – their only away goal of the campaign to date. Furthermore, victory on Friday would see them record successive away wins for the first time in more than three years.

Key stat: Six of the eight goals scored by Croatia during this qualifying campaign came in the second half, including their sole away goal thus far.

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Cyprus Vs Croatia Betting Advice

With Croatia (ranked 17) heavily fancied to make it five wins from seven in Group H at the expense of this blunt Cyprus side (103), it is all about how we get the visitors on side. Although there is clearly a significant gulf between the sides, this may not necessarily be borne out in the scoreline. Croatia mustering three goals across a pair of previous head to head encounters, shading the contest in Zagreb 1-0 back in March.

 

 

Lending further weight to the argument goals could be light is Cyprus’ scoring record of late, failing to net at all in each of the last five games – all in defeat – and only once in the last nine. All but of their six qualifying contests thus far went Under 2.5 Goals. Croatia have been miserly as well, going five successive qualifiers without conceding. Moreover, just two of their six matches in Group H featured at least three goals.

Best Betting Odds – Cyprus Vs Croatia

Cyprus – 10/1
Draw – 15/4
Croatia – 1/3

All betting odds provided by Betfair.