Can Croatia Bounce Back with Win Over Wales?
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There are plenty of exciting games to watch this weekend as qualifying for the 2020 European Championship continues. One of the tightest groups could be Group E with Slovakia, Wales, Hungary, Croatia and Azerbaijan.
On the 9th June Croatia welcome Wales to Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek as both teams aim to move top of the group. Croatia have 3 points from two games while Wales have 3 points from their one match played.
The hosts suffered a setback in their qualifying campaign as they lost 2-1 at Hungary last time out. Having taken the lead, the 2018 World Cup runners-up conceded two goals, one either side of half-time. The defeat followed a narrow 2-1 win over Azerbaijan at home in the first round of matches and Croatia have not made the best of starts to the group.
Following the World Cup final, Croatia have won three of their eight games. The wins have come against Jordan, Spain and Azerbaijan. They have scored goals in each of their last five matches but keeping clean sheets has been a problem.
Trends show Croatia have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five games and they have kept just one in their last thirteen matches.
Wales make the trip to Croatia having won their first and only game of the group 1-0 at home against Slovenia. Daniel James got the only goal of the match early on in Cardiff and Wales held out to take maximum points.
It was the perfect start for the Welsh who are aiming to qualify for their second successive European Championship. Wales finished second in their Nations League, losing twice to Denmark but defeating Republic of Ireland twice. They have been very inconsistent since the end of the last World Cup qualifying campaign and trends show Wales have won five of their thirteen games.
Three of the wins have come at home and Wales have won two of their last five away matches. The wins came against China and Republic of Ireland. The Welsh have kept three clean sheets in their last five away games but have also failed to score in three of the five matches.
Looking ahead to the team news and Croatia will be without the injured duo of Ivan Rakitic and Ante Rebic. Marko Pjaca, Sime Vrsaljko, Nikola Vlasic and Marko Rog are also unavailable for Zlatko Dalic.
Wales have a few injury problems of their own with Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies and James Chester key absentees from the squad. Gareth Bale is fit and could start up-front with support from Daniel James and David Brooks.
This could have been a very tough game to call but with Wales missing Ramsey and Davies, Croatia have the advantage, especially at home. It may only take one goal to settle the match and Croatia are the team most likely to get it.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
EuQ
562816
1
1 - 0
1.25
25°
1.70
1.70
3.70
6.00
1
-1
-1
2 - 1(1 - 0)
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