England v Croatia Predictions & Betting Odds – World Cup 2018

Semi Final may need more than 90 minutes

England - Croatia
England - Croatia © GEPA pictures

England v Croatia Betting Prediction – World Cup 2018 11th July – 7.00 p.m

England have exceeded expectations and have booked their place in the final four of the 2018 World Cup. If they were to get through this semi-final challenge now against Croatia England would be celebrating just their second ever World Cup Final appearance. Standing in their way is the technically strong Croatia who have really lived up to their pre-tournament billing of a dark horse. But they only survived again through another penalty shoot-out as they took down host nation Russia in the quarter finals. Our England v Croatia predictions expect a tight scrap.

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England News and Form

It has been pretty exciting and fun to have watched England at this World Cup. Their game against Colombia in the round of sixteen was tense and physical, but they got through. Things were a little more sedate and comfortable for England in the quarterfinals as they held themselves together in Samara to collect a 2-0 win over Sweden. After the ups and downs of the game against Colombia, England’s young players performed really well with some composure against Sweden. Granted the quality levels aren’t quite there, but they make up for the lack of that with commitment, determination and energy. Their midfield will likely come under pressure in this one though because that is where Croatia will have a definite advantage over the Three Lions. There have been so many positives from the performances of the Three Lions and can they continue it to get to that World Cup Final? In the bet365 correct score market, the 1-1 draw is the shortest-priced option at 5/1 with an England 1-0 at 11/2* (Betting Odds were taken from July 8th, 2018 at 6:46 p.m.). Of them, the draw is tempting.

Croatia v England 2018 Infographic

England were thankful on three notable occasions to Jordan Pickford in their game against Sweden and boss Gareth Southgate will be hoping that the England defenders can see him get a little less action in this one. Pickford thought was outstanding in that game. The clean sheet that he got against Sweden was England’s first of the tournament and it made Pickford the youngest ever England keeper to bank a clean sheet at World cup. Harry Kane didn’t get much of a look in against Sweden, looking a bit gassed at times, but he is still well on course for the Golden Boot and he is the 10/3 first goalscorer favourite* (Betting Odds were taken from July 8th, 2018 at 6:46 p.m.) for this one. That’s eleven goals in their five games at the tournament so far, the only previous World Cup edition in which England reached that tally was in 1966. The Three Lions have found the back of the net with 10 of their last 13 shots on target at the World Cup, so are certainly clinical when those chances come along. England are now at W4 D1 L1 in their last six games and they have lost just one of their last fifteen.

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Croatia News and Form

It has been a pretty intense run in the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup for Croatia who once again had to rely on a penalty shootout to get through. After needing penalties to get past Denmark in the round of sixteen (a game in which Croatia were strong favourites to win in 90 minutes) they had to rely on them again to get past Russia. The host nation continued to defy the poor status they had ahead of the tournament and pushed Croatia hard. Why this is important is that it is not only two extra 30 minute periods that Croatia have now played, but they have had all that extra emotional stress of penalty shoot-outs. Will that take its toll on them as they face up to an energetic England side on Wednesday? Under 2.5 goals at bet365 is at 1/2 odds* (betting odds taken on July 8th, 2018 at 7:56 pm) as this is a World Cup semi-final. Croatia were fantastic in the group stage, but they haven’t replicated that in the knockout phase yet.

There has been a lack of commanding authority from them in the knockouts, despite the strength and quality that they have. Still, they are in the semi finals of the World Cup for the second time having made it to this stage in 1998 when they lost but ended up finishing third. The Croatians are carrying form with a good W4 D2 record in their last six games, but they haven’t managed to pick up a clean sheet in any of their last three now. The main bulk of Croatia’s star players probably won’t be back for another World Cup because of age and maybe there are signs of tiring from them. They wouldn’t want this to go to extra time against England’s young side. Croatia have netted at least two goals in five of their last six (extra time included) and without question, they will be the highest-quality starting eleven that England will have faced at this tournament. It hasn’t been plain sailing for them in the knockout stage, but they have quality likes Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Rakitic and of course Luka Modric. Croatia have lost just the two games since the beginning of September last year. Croatia are 13/10 underdogs To Qualify* (Betting Odds were taken from July 8th, 2018 at 6:46 p.m.).

England v Croatia Head to Head

Seven times before England and Croatia have met and England are 4-2 ahead with the one drawn match. England have won the last two meetings between the two countries, which were during 2010 World Cup qualifying, England scoring nine goals in those two games and conceding two. All but two of the previous seven meetings have gone over 2.5 goals, six of them producing at least four goals. They have just once in a major tournament, which was at Euro 2004 and England won that game 4-2 with Wayne Rooney getting a brace in the fixture.

England v Croatia Betting Odds*

England 11/8
Draw 21/10
Croatia 5/2
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on July 8th, 2018 at 6:46 p.m.)

England v Croatia Predictions

We only see this being tight as Croatia are patient and have the stronger midfield of the two. We can see this semi-final tie going beyond ninety minutes. So we are looking at the draw in the match outright. Croatia haven’t played well but are technically strong enough to hold in there and England don’t create enough from open play.