It is a shock at the top that awaits the vice-world champions against Portugal led by the coach Fernando Santos. For their first post-World match, the Croatians will be keen to forget the bitter taste of the lost final against France. On the side of Portugal, it will be in the absence of the key player, Cristiano Ronaldo, that he will have to face the Croats led by Luka Modric, freshly elected UEFA player of the season. Real strong man of the selection, he will have the opportunity to recall his status against an opponent who seems to be in their range, Portugal having shown only a pale face during the World Cup.
KEY STATS
Croatia will be able to count on his strong man Luka Modric to face the Portuguese who will have to do without Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese remain on a mixed World Cup with only one victory over the smallest gap against Morocco.
The Croatians have shown their strength of character throughout the World Cup with 3 goals in extra time.
Croats who have moved from 16th to 4th place in the FIFA rankings enjoy the status of favorites.
Croatia has won 6 of its last 8 games against a European team.
Portugal and Croatia have had various fortunes since the Portuguese European title to Euro 2016. If the European Champions had eliminated the Croatians in the semifinals, the trend has clearly reversed. The Croats, strong of a beautiful World Cup, where they will have overflowed their group stage and showed resilience during the cleaver games logically enjoy the status of favorites. On the contrary, the men of Fernando Santos, did not leave an imperishable memory, having obtained only a complicated victory vis-a-vis the Lions of the Atlas. The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo for this match is also an additional handicap. We predict a victory for the Croats!
Betting Prediction: Croatia or draw
Odds: 1.38Bet Tip: Croatia wins
Odds: 3.00Betting Tips: Croatia wins from 2 or over
Odds: 6.00
In the previous one, the visiting team starts slightly as a favorite due to the…
Game with a favorable forecast for Alcorcon, who arrives registering very good results as a…
Two teams that have no claim in the Spor Toto Super League will face each…
Aston Villa is a very combative team and has credentials in the face of goal,…
We are going to the Chinese League again, as I said, all the teams have…
In the previous one, the “rossonero” team starts as a favorite due to its collective…