UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers: Group D – Croatia vs Wales

Croatia host Wales at Stadion Poljud, Split, in their opening Group D qualifier for UEFA Euro 2024.

Should one of Armenia or Turkey win in their earlier kick-off, victory by a bigger margin would see Croatia or Wales go top of Qualifying Group D.

 

Team News

Luka Susic is ruled out for Croatia after he suffered a knee injury on club duty for Red Bull Salzburg.

Ivica Ivusic (illness) has also withdrawn but Bruno Petkovic (knock) is a doubt.

Wales will be without Brennan Johnson who failed to join up with the squad due to a groin injury

Wayne Hennessey (knee) and Ben Davies (hamstring) have also withdrawn from the squad, meaning that Tom King, Morgan Fox, Mark Harris and Liam Cullen have been called up as replacements.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Croatia host Wales at Stadion Poljud, Split, in a 8:45pm CET kick-off (7:45pm UK Time), with the match live on Viaplay in UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Croatia are unbeaten in six previous meetings against Wales in all competitions (W4, D2).
• Wales are winless in four previous away matches against Croatia in all competitions (D1, L3).
• Croatia have won two of their last three meetings against Wales by 2-1 result, only failing to do so in a 1-1 draw in Cardiff in October 2019.
• Croatia have lost just one of their last five home games across all competitions (W2, D2, L1), yet have managed just one clean sheet in those five games – 1-0 against Russia in November 2021.
• Wales are winless in their last eight matches in all competitions (D2, L6).

 

Prediction

Having battled their way to third place at the World Cup with a number of scrappy performances in which their resilient defence proved decisive alongside a clinical end product, Croatia now need to reset and focus on their future because they do face a fairly tough transition in coming years.

Wales meanwhile are currently undergoing their own transition following the international retirements of Chris Gunter, Joe Allen, Jonny Williams and Gareth Bale, yet do still have a large number of players who have been a regular part of the squad under Rob Page.

Both teams though didn’t exactly show their best at the World Cup despite Croatia’s deep run so I can see tactics playing a role here, especially for Wales who are also without the in-form Johnson which might just give Croatia the edge if the hosts can find their top gear up front.

Prediction: Croatia 2-1 Wales

Result: Croatia 1-1 Wales