Betting tips & predictions

Wales vs Croatia Betting Tips and Predictions

11th October 2019

Articles

Ryan Giggs’ Wales welcome Zlato Dalic’s Croatia to the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday night for their crunch Group E match. Croatia are fresh from beating Hungary 3-0 while Wales made a dog’s dinner of their match in Slovakia, drawing 1-1 in Trnava on Thursday. The Welsh can still qualify, but if they lose this match it’s unlikely.

Wales vs Croatia Betting Tips and Predictions: Wales

The hosts have not been in great form over their qualification campaign, winning just two of their five matches so far. They’ve not had their shooting boots on either, finding the net just five times and conceding five.

It would be nice to lay the blame on injured players, such as Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale missing international matches, but it’s not so. Of course he’s been missing friendlies, Gareth Bale is a bit like his manager Ryan Giggs, he just doesn’t do international friendlies, but he’s played all five of Wales’ matches so far, scoring just a solitary goal.

It had all looked so good against Slovakia, 0-1 up at half time and controlling the match, however, Slovakia drew level and both teams are now chasing that second spot in the group, with Wales having an extra game to play.

Wales vs Croatia Betting Tips and Predictions: Croatia

Croatia are in the driving seat and cruising at the moment. Of their six matches so far they’ve won four, drawn one and lost one, surprisingly away to Hungary. The drawn match was a bit of a shock too, drawing 1-1 with Azerbaijan just last month. Thankfully those results came months apart, had they come after each other it’s hard to see how Dalic would’ve stayed in the job after such bad results for a team ranked seventh in the world.

The Croats though are a bit like their neighbours Italy across the Adriatic Sea, they experiment with starting lineups and tactics during qualification campaigns and their tinkering usually pays off when it comes to tournaments.

In their last match against Hungary, played on Thursday, they roared into an early lead, scoring three before halftime and took their foot off the pedal for the second half. No matter the final score here against Wales, Croatia will remain top of the group and will have one final game when they host Slovakia in about a month’s time.

With Wales having two more games to go after this and Croatia just the one, the Croats will be eager to put more distance between themselves and the chasing pack, Hungary are still in with a shout as well, a win here means they’ll be on 16 points and Wales won’t be able to catch them, should Croatia lose Wales will be on 10 while they’ll be on 13 with the Welsh having two games to play, while the Croats will have to host Slovakia. Yes, it’s complicated, so let’s boil it down; both teams will really, really want to win this match.

Wales vs Croatia Betting Tips and Predictions: Stats

Of Wales’ five most recent matches, they’ve won two, drawn one and lost two. Over 2.5 goals has occurred in 2/5, while BTTS has landed in 3/5 as well.

Of Croatia’s five previous matches, they’ve won three, drawn one and lost one. Over 2.5 goals has occurred in 4/5, while BTTS landed in 3/5 as well.

Wales vs Croatia Betting Tips and Predictions: Prediction and Tips

The Asian Handicap line opened at 0.25 with little movement so far. The goal line opened at 2.25, Overs opened at 1.78, it’s now at 1.84 so the market isn’t expecting a goalfest.

We’d love to tip loads of goals here, both teams will be after the three points, especially Wales after drawing with Slovakia during the week, but Wales just don’t score enough for us to be confident. Instead we’re going to play it safe and go with Both Teams to Score at 1.80.

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