Spain U21 Vs Croatia U21
Spain U21 Vs Croatia U21 Monday, 31st May 2021 – 17:00 (Sky Sports)
UEFA Euro Under-21 Championship
Pick: Spain Win
Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 29th May 2021)
Preview: Five-time European Under-21 champions Spain have never lost a knockout encounter prior to the final itself, a quite magnificent record they will be doing their utmost to preserve in their quarter-final tie with Croatia in Maribor, Slovenia. The winner meets either Portugal or Italy in the semi-final.
UEFA Euro Under-21 Championship Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Spain – La Rojita giving nothing away defensively?
Only the Italians have won as many European Championships as Spain, so it was rather fitting that the pair should be drawn together in this year’s group stage. La Rojita emerged victorious from this particular mini battle, though. Luis de la Fuente’s young charges booking a spot in the last eight as section winners from Group B, pipping Gli Azzurini to top spot despite the pair playing out a goalless draw in Maribor.
Spain accounted for co-hosts Slovenia and the Czech Republic either side of that scoreless affair, winning 3-0 and 2-0 respectively. It means that, when including results from qualifying, the Spanish have only conceded once in 13 matches (W11 D2) in getting to this point. Meanwhile, their record once here is phenomenal, having never lost a knockout game that wasn’t a final since the format was introduced in 1998.
Croatia – Biscan determined to create more history?
Arguably the most surprising inclusion in the last eight came about through the most dramatic of circumstances. Domagoj Bradaric’s 91-minute consolation – a rocket of a strike from distance – in a 2-1 loss to England was enough to send Croatia through to the knockouts for the very first time. Although they did so as the only one of the eight teams still standing to lose two-thirds of their matches.
Former Liverpool midfielder Igor Biscan is the man reaping the acclaim for an historic tournament, one that has already seen them progress beyond the group for the first time but also secure their maiden victory at a finals. That came in a 3-2 victory over Switzerland, in which they led 3-0 at one stage, which was preceded by a 1-0 loss to Portugal. Leaving them with an all-time tournament record of W1 D3 L8.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Spain U21 Vs Croatia U21 Betting Advice
The luck of the draw has undoubtedly shone on Spain, who are heavily fancied to dispose of a nation that hadn’t managed a single win across its three previous tournament finals appearances. In fact, Croatia didn’t even top their qualifying section, finishing behind the Czech Republic with a record of W6 D2 L2 – in stark contrast to the nine wins and one goal conceded by Spain en route to these finals.
Spain U21 Vs Croatia U21 – Key Facts:
- Croatia hadn’t won a single game at the finals of a European Championship prior to this one. They are now embarking on their first knockout campaign after a runners-up finish in Group D (W1 L2).
- Spain are bidding to reach three consecutive finals, having won this tournament the last time it was held in 2019. La Rojita topped Group B (W2 D1) and are among three sides yet to concede at these finals.
- When including qualifying matches prior to these finals, Spain have conceded only one goal – a penalty during the qualifying campaign – across thirteen matches (W11 D2).
Croatia (W1 L2) are the only team in the last eight to lose two out of three group games. Spain (W2 D1), meanwhile, were only denied a perfect record after a 0-0 draw with a decent Italian outfit. La Rojita are yet to concede either. A Spanish win to nil appeals then, bearing in mind it took a stunning strike in their final group game to prevent Croatia from what would have been a second goalless outing at these finals.
Best Betting Odds – Spain U21 Vs Croatia U21
Spain U21 – 8/11 (Betfair)
Draw – 13/5 (PaddyPower)
Croatia U21 – 4/1 (BetVictor)
