Greece v Croatia Predictions & Betting Odds – 12th November 2017

To team ever has overturned a 4-1 first-leg deficit in a WC Qualifer

Modric (Croatia)
Modric (Croatia) © GEPA pictures

Greece v Croatia Betting Preview – World Cup 2018 Qualifiers 12th November

This tie is pretty much done and dusted now with Croatia holding a commanding lead now after landing a 4-1 victory in the first leg on Thursday night. They can make the trip to Greece now on cruise control pretty much and they have such a big lead and made the Greeks look so ordinary in that first match up, that this almost has the feeling of being a dead rubber. It’s unlikely Greece are going do anything near enough to win this game by enough to reach Russia 2018.

Greece v Croatia 2017 Infographic

Greece v Croatia Betting Tips

Greece have little chance of making it through to the World Cup next summer. They were torn apart in Zagreb on Thursday night, their plans to keep things tight failing miserably thanks to the quality of Croatia and some woeful defending of their own. Never before has a team managed to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficit in a World Cup play off either so history is against them. They were made to look extremely poor and lacking in quality against Croatia in the first leg. But as a positive, they do actually hold an unbeaten record from their three previous home games against Croatia with a W2 D1 record from those three. They only suffered the one home loss in the group stage of qualification as well in putting up a W2 D2 L1 record and even if they were going to put a win on the board on the night in the second leg, it is highly unlikely it would be by a big enough margin to get through this and reach Russia 2018. Greece have actually won just one of their last five games on home soil (competitive and friendly). The shortest priced option in the bet365 correct score market for the game is the 1-1 draw at 11/2 with a Croatia 1-0 at 6/1.

Croatia really just have to take things easy and play this scenario out and therefore under 2.5 goals with bet365 has to be a good option at a price of 3/4. Croatia realistically have the tie won already and they are arguably the best team in the playoffs as well as they showed that on Thursday night with their quality and attacking intent. Greece frankly didn’t help themselves though as the produced some comical defending at times but that was because they were under so much pressure from the Croats. Mario Mandzukic is the 6/4 anytime goalscorer favourite for the match. Croatia have actually lost two of their last three competitive away games (W1 L2) so haven’t been in the greatest of road form recently. The defeats were against Turkey and Iceland in the group stage of World Cup qualifying. From their seven previous games that these two have played out, things are even with two wins each and three draws. Croatia are likely going to close this out easily and Croatia to win to nil at bet365 is a price of 5/2.

Greece v Croatia Betting Odds

Croatia 21/20, Draw 12/5, Greece 5/2

Greece v Croatia Predictions

Croatia to win: The Croats are in full control of this tie now and can coast. Even though they don’t have to break a sweat in this one, the more Greece try and at least make the aggregate receivable, Croatia can pick them off even more.