Wales vs Croatia: EURO 2024 Qualifiers Soccer Bet Predictions
Wales and Croatia meet on Sunday in a fixture that is set to have a huge bearing on whether either side will qualify for next year’s European Championship in Germany. Our sportsbook offers the best markets and live betting in the European Cup.
Wales in Must-Win Situation
Rob Page’s side warmed up for this fixture with a friendly 4-0 win against Gibraltar, racing into a four-goal lead by halftime but not adding more goals after the interval at Wrexham.
But facing the World Cup’s third-best team will be an almighty challenge for the hosts. Wales managed an impressive 1-1 draw in Split earlier this year, and Rob Page spoke after the Gibraltar game to insist it was proof they can go toe-to-toe with them and would leapfrog them in the table with a win because of a better head-to-head record.
The Welsh do have a superb record of massive wins at their Cardiff City Stadium fortress and have still to host the Turks in their final group game next month. However, Page’s side will be out of contention if they lose and Turkey avoids defeat against Latvia in the day’s other Group D game.
Neco Williams has grown into a fine player for Nottingham Forest and Wales, and his attacking prowess from full-back is an asset for club and country. However, at times this can leave him out of position and get booked. Still, if you like UEFA Euro Cup Qualifiers player props, he’s a player to watch.
Croatia Eager to Bounce Back
The Croats were stunned in Osijek on Thursday when they crashed to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Turkey, who took over at the top of the table. It was no smash-and-grab either, the Turkish side recorded more shots on target than their hosts and deserved to score more goals.
Croatia sits second in the group, three points behind Turkey, and can take a significant step towards qualification with a victory. With so much at stake, we’re expecting a cagey affair. Croatia are a strong side but have produced some unconvincing performances of late.
One man who will be important for the Croatia side in this fixture is Andrej Kramaric. The midfielder missed the match against Turkey but is expected to play a part in this game.
Croatia has never lost successive Euro Championship qualifying games as an independent nation. They’ve also reached each of the last five Euro finals, so failure to do so this time around would be seen as catastrophic, especially for a nation that’s made at least the semi-finals in the last two FIFA World Cups.
Croatia Has Never Lost to Wales
A run of just one win from 13 outings before their latest back-to-back wins makes Wales the obvious soccer betting underdog, especially ahead of Croatia’s visit, a side they’ve never beaten. Seven of Wales’ last 10 home Euro Championships Qualifiers wins have been accompanied by a clean sheet.
There’s a safety net in failure for both teams, however, as due to their Nations League rankings from the last cycle, Croatia is guaranteed a play-off if they miss out on automatic progression, while Wales is currently positioned to claim one too.
Wales vs Croatia Game Information
- Game: Wales (2-1-2) vs Croatia (3-1-1)
- Location: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
- Day/Time: Sunday, Oct. 15, 2:45 p.m. ET
- Wales vs Croatia Live Stream: Fox, Fubo.tv
Wales vs Croatia Betting Lines
Bet on Croatia to Return to Winning Ways
Injuries to key players threaten their aspirations, with captain Aaron Ramsey and Brennan Johnson both sidelined for this clash. Croatia has been recording under three goals fixtures consistently since the beginning of their qualifying campaign. Three of their four qualifier outings this season were low-scoring.
Their strong defensive line is the main reason for the low-scoring displays. Wales has a below-par attacking line. Knowing that Croatia has leaked just two goals so far this campaign, we expect a low-scoring, one-sided affair on Sunday.
What are some soccer player prop bets for the Wales vs. Croatia UEFA Euro Qualifier?
Dinamo Zagreb striker Bruno Petkovic scored six goals in his last seven games and netted a double for Croatia in their 5-0 win against Latvia, his 10th for his country in 33 caps. He is the player to watch and bet on.
What are some soccer player prop bets to consider betting on for the Wales vs. Croatia UEFA Euro Qualifier?
Goal-scorers and bookings represent great value bets when looking for props. Wales’ Neco Williams was booked seven times in the EPL last season and has two bookings in five games in European Championship qualifying. That may rise to three in six on Sunday.
