Croatia v England Betting Tips – UEFA Nations League, 12th October 7.45pm
If there is a loser in this pressure-game in the group, then that team will be favourite to suffer relegation. These two have already lost against Spain who look a lock to win the group from here. So this is a battle to avoid relegation realistically and not much else. Croatia had the upper hand when they met in the World Cup semi-finals in the summer, can England produce better against them this time around? Read our predictions for Croatia v England.
Croatia v England Betting Odds*
Croatia 13/8
England 7/4
Draw 21/10
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on October 8th, 2018 at 5:08 p.m.)
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Croatia News and Form
Not many punters would have seen the drubbing that was handed out to Croatia by Spain. The Spaniards ran rampant in a 6-0 win over the Croatians. So immediately now, the 2018 World Cup runners-up are in a big deficit in the group. Before that defeat against Spain, they had played out a friendly draw against Portugal.
Even though they had that deep run at the World Cup, Croatia are actually D4 L2 in their last six games (over 90 minutes). They certainly aren’t in winning form. With that in mind a 1-1 draw in the correct score market looks a decent place to start for this one at 5/1 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from October 8th, 2018 at 5:08 p.m.).
In their semi-final clash with England at the World Cup, Croatia were easily the better side, their midfield creativity of Luka Modric being the stand-out difference. England badly need someone of that quality. England are W4 L2 with the two draws (over 90 minutes) in their head to head history against Croatia.
The last win in 90 minutes that Croatia took over England was back in the Euro 2008 qualifiers when they took a 3-2 away win. Both teams to score is at 10/11 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from October 8th, 2018 at 5:08 p.m.) and Croatia have no clean sheet in seven.
England News and Form
England have struggled at the back since the end of World Cup qualifying, but they banked a 1-0 win over Switzerland in their last game, an international friendly. But that was a really dull, non-event in which both sides made plenty of changes. England suffered a loss against Spain in their first Nations League game so this is a battle to stay off the bottom of the group against Croatia.
The Three Lions are W2 D2 L3 in their last seven games (90 minutes) of action. So much like their opponents, they are not in great winning form. Harry Kane anytime goalscorer market favourite. However it is Marcus Rashford who has scored England’s last two goals and the Manchester United man is at 2/1 to net anytime* (Betting Odds were taken from October 8th, 2018 at 5:08 p.m.).
There are plenty of new faces in the squad which Gareth Southgate has called upon. Borussia Dortmund youngster Jadon Sancho get his chance along with James Maddison and Mason Mount. Other uncapped players in the squad are Marcus Bettinelli, Alex McCarthy and Nathaniel Chalobah.
Lewis Dunk gets a first squad place because of injury to James Tarkowski. Chelsea’s Ross Barkley has earned himself a recall. This is a young England squad still, under 24 years of age on average. The big question about England is over their ability to beat better sides. They failed to do so at the World Cup and it’s been a while since they knocked off a top nation.
Croatia v England Predictions
Draw: The issue for England here is that they are on the road in a tough competitive match and they may be happy enough to settle for a point. That would at least get them up and running in the group and it could be a good workout in defensive discipline before meeting Spain again. Draw.
