Sweden Vs Croatia
Sweden Vs Croatia Saturday 14th November 2020 – 19:45 Kick-Off
UEFA Nations League Group A3
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 11th November 2020)
Preview: Victory in Solna on Saturday will guarantee another stint in League A of next season’s UEFA Nations League for Croatia, but that would be at the expense of a Sweden side who simply must win to have any realistic chance of avoiding relegation from the group.
UEFA Nations League Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Sweden Preview – On the brink of rejoining League B?
The Swedes have lost all four matches in Group A3 and are now on the brink. Lose Saturday’s encounter in Solna with Croatia, who won the reverse fixture 2-1 in Zagreb despite experienced forward Marcus Berg notching international goal number 22 to fire the Scandinavians back on level terms, and Sweden’s relegation to League B for next season’s Nations League will be confirmed.
In truth, Sweden are slightly fortunate to be in League A. In 2018-19’s inaugural edition of the competition, Janne Andersson oversaw a mixed campaign in League B, recording a similar record (W2 D1 L1) to Russia who were ultimately denied promotion due to their inferior head-to-head record. The step up, particularly in such a strong section boasting France and Portugal, has so far garnered zero points and only one goal scored.
Croatia Preview – Another disappointing away display incoming?
Promotion is no longer plausible following their 2-1 loss at home to France last time out, making it three defeats in four Group A3 fixtures for 2018’s FIFA World Cup runners-up, who are left seven points adrift of leaders France and Portugal. All that remains for the Croats is to avoid demotion to League B, something which can be achieved with a game to spare with victory over Sweden on Saturday.
Croatia have already beaten their opponents once, of course, courtesy of Andrej Kramaric’s 84th minute strike in Zagreb on Matchday 3. They also boast victories on each of their two previous visits to Sweden. However, it is worth pointing out how Zlatko Dalic’s men have registered only two away wins in ten away matches (W2 D2 L5) since the 2018 World Cup finals, losing heavily in France (4-2) and Portugal (4-1) during this campaign.
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Sweden Vs Croatia Betting Advice
Circumstances dictate that Sweden have to win this match-up, as while a draw would still keep them alive, their prospects of beating France in Paris next week appear slim at best. The closest Janne Andersson’s men have come to a point in this group came against Croatia, though, when a late goal earned the latter a crucial 2-1 win in an evenly contested encounter in Zagreb.
Sweden Vs Croatia – Key Facts:
- Four defeats from as many games in Group A3 for Sweden, whose only goal came in the reverse fixture, when falling to a 2-1 scoreline over in Croatia.
- All four group matches featured both teams scoring when Croatia were involved, contributing to each of their past nine matches seeing goals at both ends.
- Croatia have been victorious on both previous visits to Sweden, winning a 2003 friendly 2-1 prior to a 1-0 scoreline the following year in a World Cup qualifier.
Sweden have only managed the one goal across four group game thus far. I expect that to improve, however, with the arrival of a Croatia team without a single clean sheet in nine games – all of which featured both teams among the goals. That bet, which landed first time around when these teams met on Matchday 3, appeals at close to evens. Meanwhile, Over 2.5 Goals (5/4 with BetVictor) has landed in six of their eight group games combined.
Best Betting Odds – Sweden Vs Croatia
Sweden – 2/1 (Unibet)
Draw – 9/4 (Betfair)
Croatia – 6/4 (Bet365)
