Croatia vs Poland prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League A betting tips on match 2024-09-07 18:45.
[p]After failing to make much of an impact at this summer’s UEFA Euro 2024 – which led to a group-stage exit – Croatia will have been looking to this first international break of this season as a chance to recapture some better form. Instead, on matchday one of this edition of the UEFA Nations League, they ran into a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal, who won 2-1 in Lisbon, as the Al-Nassr star scored the 900th goal of an astonishing career. [/p]
[p]With that away fixture their toughest on paper in League A Group 1, manager Zlatko Dalić will know that easier assignments lie ahead, including this game against Poland, who they beat 1-0 in their last H2H in 2008. A glance at the Chequered Ones’ recent home form suggests that a repeat of that outcome could be likely here, as the hosts have lost just one of their last seven such encounters (W4, D2) and with each of their last three victories in Croatia accompanied by a clean sheet.[/p]
[p]Poland fared much better in their matchday-one outing than their opposition here, as a Nicola Zalewski penalty deep into injury time saw them snatch all three points in a 3-2 win against Scotland at Hampden Park. The Poles had led 2-0 at half-time before being pegged back, and even though they rallied to eventually take victory, their defensive vulnerabilities continue to be a problem.[/p]
[p]That was a big reason for their group-stage exit at Euro 2024, as they conceded six goals in total to leave the competition winless (D1, L2). A mini three-match unbeaten run on the road since October (W3) should lift spirits before this outing at least, as too will the fact that their last UNL away game in 2022 saw them keep a rare clean sheet as they ended a disappointing campaign with a 1-0 victory over Wales. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: After netting four goals in Hoffenheim’s opening two Bundesliga matches this season, Croatia will hope that Andrej Kramarić can add to his 29 international goals here, especially as his nation have gone unbeaten across his last 16 goalscoring caps (W11, D5). Poland’s Robert Lewandowski has also netted four league strikes this term, and after scoring against Scotland, he’s now level with Ferenc Puskás in eighth spot in the list of top international men’s goalscorers (G84)! [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Poland’s last six internationals have averaged 3.5 match goals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Nathan Evans[/i] Â [/p]
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