Croatia vs Scotland prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League A betting tips on match 2024-10-11 16:00.
[p]With Portugal looking likely to claim one of the two top spots in Group A1 of the UEFA Nations League (UNL), the other three sides are seemingly battling hard for the other. Croatia occupy that spot currently, and as they welcome the group’s one winless side, Scotland, they should feel confident of maintaining their spot come the end of matchday three, taking another step towards the quarter-finals in the process. [/p]
[p]Ranked #12 by FIFA, Croatia were runners up in the last UNL edition, but that’s the only time in the three iterations prior they’ve reached the finals. In the group stages though, Zlatko Dalić’s side have decent pedigree, winning five of their last six UNL group games (L1), although the fact four of those wins came by a single-goal margin would suggest a closely-fought affair here. [/p]
[p]A close game would probably be an achievement in itself for a Scotland side who travel to Zagreb in truly awful form across their last 14 internationals (W1, D4, L9). A huge line of players in the treatment room certainly won’t help their cause here, something boss Steve Clarke described as “horrendous” as he could field a full 11 of injured players that boasts well over 300 caps. [/p]
[p]Doing without those players here certainly won’t help their chances of securing a first-ever League A victory (L2), although the fact both defeats came by just a single goal suggests they’re not too far off the required mark. Finally kickstarting their inaugural UNL top-flight campaign against Croatia wouldn’t necessarily be a surprise based on the historical H2H at least, as Scotland have only lost one of the six all-time matchups (W2, D3, L1). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Croatia’s Luka Modrić needs just one more goal in 2024 to equal his best-ever scoring international return in a calendar year – his three so far this year have all been match openers. Lyndon Dykes may get the nod up front for Scotland, especially given his eight international scoring appearances have all ended in victory. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Scotland have conceded at least twice in ten of their last 14 internationals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]