SM
Arsenal vs. Juventus: 6 hrs 38 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
CN
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Sep 8, 2023 at 7.45pm UK
Education City Stadium
LN

Croatia
5 - 0
Latvia

Petkovic (3', 44'), Ivanusec (13'), Kramaric (68'), Pasalic (78')
FT(HT: 3-0)

Cigaņiks (81')

Preview: Croatia vs. Latvia - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Croatia vs. Latvia - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Friday's Euro Champ Qualifying clash between Croatia and Latvia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Unbeaten after two matches, Croatia welcome Latvia to Stadion HNK Rijeka on Friday as both sides return to Euro 2024 qualifying action.

The hosts occupy third place in Group D - two points shy of the top two - while the visitors find themselves rock bottom of the standings following three straight losses.


Match preview

While the other teams in Group D have played three of four matches, Croatia have only played twice due to their participation in June's UEFA Nations League Finals, but the Blazers still find themselves in a strong position after taking four points from a possible six.

Following a 1-1 draw with Wales in their opening qualifier, Zlatko Dalic's men claimed a 2-0 victory over Turkey in Bursa, with Manchester City new boy Mateo Kovacic bagging a first-half brace to seal the points for his side.

Three months later, the Croatians secured a 4-2 extra-time win against the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the Nations League, although they ultimately fell short in the final, playing out a goalless draw with Spain before losing on penalties.

Still, it is worth noting that Croatia have lost just one of their last 17 encounters inside 90 minutes, suffering a 3-0 defeat to eventual champions Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals back in December before clinching the bronze medal in Qatar.

Since taking over in 2017, Dalic has guided the Checkered Ones to a World Cup final and a World Cup third-place playoff, cementing Croatia's status as one of the most successful national teams of the modern era.

By contrast, Latvia have failed to win any of their previous eight matches inside 90 minutes, defeating Estonia on penalties in the Baltic Cup semi-finals back in November before suffering spot-kick heartache against Iceland in the final.

Since then, Dainis Kazakevics's side have recorded four successive defeats, with a 3-2 friendly loss against Republic of Ireland in March preceding three disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying defeats.

After starting their qualifying campaign with a 1-0 loss in Wales, the 11 Wolves endured an agonising 3-2 defeat against Turkey, with Kristers Tobers's 94th-minute equaliser being cancelled out by Irfan Kahveci's 95th-minute winner.

Four days later, the Latvians conceded in second-half stoppage time once again as they lost 2-1 against Armenia, although they failed to register a single attempt on target in Yerevan, while the hosts racked up 67% possession and 21 shots.

Given that Lativa have managed to win just 21 of their 75 European Championship qualifiers over the years - recording 13 draws and 41 losses along the way - the Baltic nation looks destined to endure another unsuccessful qualification campaign.

Croatia Euro Champ Qualifying form:


Croatia form (all competitions):


Latvia Euro Champ Qualifying form:


Latvia form (all competitions):



Team News

Six members of Croatia's 23-man squad have 80+ caps to their name, including Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic and Andrej Kramaric, while Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic and Domagoj Vida have all made more than a century of international appearances.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Zlatko Dalic has called up the uncapped duo of Nediljko Labrovic and Matija Frigan to the latest squad, while Benfica striker Peter Musa will be hoping to pick up his third cap in the coming days.

Notable absentees include veteran centre-back Dejan Lovren, who retired from international football earlier this year, with Lovre Kalinic, Luka Sucic and Mislav Orsic missing out due to injury.

It is fair to say that Latvia's squad is nowhere near as experienced as Croatia's, with only three players - Kaspars Dubra, Roberts Savaļnieks and Janis Ikaunieks - possessing 50+ international caps.

At the age of just 21, Spezia forward Raimonds Krollis has already represented his country on 31 occasions, scoring three goals in the process, while 22-year-old captain Kristers Tobers has 24 caps under his belt.


Croatia possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Sutalo, Perisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Ivanusec

Latvia possible starting lineup:
Purins; Savalnieks, Oss, Balodis, Dubra; Jaunzems, Saveljevs, Tobers, Cigankis; Uldrikis, Krollis


We say: Croatia 3-1 Latvia

Given that Latvia have scored three goals across their last two qualifiers, we can see the visitors finding the back of the net on Friday, but Croatia are expected to outscore the Group D minnows without any problems.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__523347 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 13:15:52:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 13:15:52 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Croatia Euro 2020 preview - prediction, fixtures, squad, star player
Man United 'planning stunning swap deal' for Inter's prolific striker Martinez
When will Alaba return to action? Potential return date revealed
UEFA Nations League knockout stage and playoffs: When is the draw? Who is involved?
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Arsenal vs. Nott'm Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PA

Preview: Man City vs. Spurs - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PM

Sporting 'bracing themselves' for Man United bid for £83m star

NEW

3

S'

Preview: QPR vs. Stoke - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PQ

Saka decision, who replaces White? Predicted Arsenal XI against Forest

5

SD

Yoro debut? Shaw, Mainoo to return? Man United injury news vs. Ipswich

6

YD

Courtois, Rodrygo, Alaba updates: Real Madrid injury news vs. Leganes

7

CR

Debut vs. Ipswich? Amorim 'drops hint' over Yoro involvement at Portman Road

NEW

8

DV

Wood or Awoniyi up front? Predicted Forest XI against Arsenal

9

WO

Preview: Bournemouth vs. Brighton - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PB


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .