The UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifiers continue Saturday, March 25, 2023, with the Group D first-round action, so we bring you the best Croatia vs. Wales betting pick and odds along with the latest team stats and news.
Croatia – Wales Betting Tip, Prediction & Odds (25.3.2023)
After finishing third in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Croatia will try to stay on the right track and conquer Group D in the EURO 2024 qualifiers. The opening match is a tricky one even though the Gareth Bale era is over in Wales, so let’s take a closer look.
Croatia – Wales: Initial Situation
Group D features three strong contenders for the top-two finish (Croatia, Wales, Turkey) and a couple of minnows in Latvia and Armenia. Hereof, the opening clash between Croatia and Wales has high stakes and could determine the future of these two national teams.
Croatia Stats & Form
The Blazers are coming off a 2-1 victory over Morocco in the World Cup Third Place Playoff. After beating Japan and Brazil on penalties in the first two rounds of the knock-out stage, the Blazers lost to the eventual World champs Argentina 3-0 in the semis. Croatia also played in the UEFA Nations League in 2022. The Blazers topped Group A1 with 13 points (W4, D1, L1) and an 8:6 goal difference, leaving Denmark, France, and Austria behind them.
Luka Modric (162 caps, 23 goals) will continue to orchestrate the Blazers’ game in the middle of the park. The 37-year-old playmaker is still one of the best midfielders in the world. The 21-year-old defender Josko Gvardiol (19 caps, two goals) is a key man at the back, while Andrej Kramaric (81 caps, 22 goals) and Ivan Perisic (123 caps, 33 goals) lead the Blazers’ frontline.
Wales Stats & Form
The Dragons disappointed their fans in Qatar, finishing the 2022 World Cup bottom of Group B with just a point on their account. They were also relegated from the UEFA Nations League A. The Dragons were dead last in Group A4 with one point (D1, L5) and a 6:11 goal difference.
Gareth Bale decided to retire after the World Cup and 111 caps and 41 goals in the national team. Aaron Ramsey (78 caps, 20 goals) will lead the Dragons as long as he’s healthy, while the 22-year-old midfielder Ethan Ampadu (40 caps) is arguably the best young player in this Wales team.
Croatia – Wales: Head-to-Head
The Dragons are winless in six meetings with the Blazers, recording a couple of draws in the process. Wales and Croatia met in the EURO 2020 Qualifiers, and the Blazers earned four points out of their two encounters with the Dragons. Croatia beat Wales 2-1 at home while playing a 1-1 draw at Cardiff City Stadium.
Croatia – Wales Odds
The Blazers are firm 1.57 home favorites at bet365 Sportsbook. On paper, they are a much better team than Wales. The bookmakers don’t expect to see a lot of goals in this matchup, looking for Wales to defend in numbers. Hereof, Over 2.5 Goals pays 2.10 at Unibet Sportsbook.
Croatia will dominate Wales in the middle of the park and keep the ball in possession for the vast majority of 90 minutes. However, the Blazers lack a proper goalscorer, so I don’t feel comfortable backing them to beat Wales by two or more goals. The prize for the straight-up victory is not attractive, so I’ll take Croatia AH -1.0 at 2.05 on bet365. If the Blazers win by one goal, you’ll get your money back, at least.
Betting tip and prediction: Croatia – Wales (25.3.2023)