Croatia vs Italy Predictions & Match Preview

Croatia vs Italy Prediction

Croatia and Italy will lock horns in a crucial Matchday 3 clash in Group B on Monday evening at Leipzig Stadion.

Italy enter the tie from a better position after the opening day’s win over Albania but a potential defeat here would put them in all sorts of troubles.

• Croatia are unbeaten in the last eight head-to-head games with Italy.
• Italy registered only four shots in a 0-1 defeat to Spain on Wednesday.
• Six of the previous seven H2H matches between these rivals ended with fewer than three goals scored.
• Croatia entered the tournament on the back of a run of five wins and a draw in the last six matches across competitions.

With just one point from the opening two games at the 2024 Euro, Croatia are one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament so far.

The back-to-back World Cup semi-finalists have played the initial two matches way below their standard.

They conceded a last-gasp equalizer against Albania on Wednesday to remain at the very foot of Group B standings going into the final day.

Italy did beat Albania in the first round but they have failed to impress along the way.

The Azzurri were them hammered on the pitch by Spain despite losing only 0-1 on Thursday night.

Croatia vs Italy Predicted Lineups and Team News

Luciano Spalletti made some early changes in the second round match against Spain, introducing Bryan Cristante and Andrea Cambiaso at the half time.

We would not be surprised to see him sending the same starting XI in the match against Croatia.

As for Zlatko Dalic, he will likely give up on the experiment with Ivan Perisic on the left back as it could prove to be devastating in a match against Italy.

Croatia (4-3-3): Livakovic – Juranovic, Sutalo, Pongrancic, Gvardiol – Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic – Majer, Petkovic, Kramaric

Italy (4-5-1): Donnarumma – Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco – Barella, Jorginho, Frattessi, Pellegrini, Chiesa – Scamacca

Croatia to get their first win and advance

Both Croatia and Italy are going through rough times these days. It is hard to give either side a favourite’s tag.

This is why we will go for the value and back Croatia to win at the lucrative 3.25 odds. The Croats will be eliminated with any other result bar a victory here.

Italy could potentially advance even with a loss. Anyways, Croatia entered the tournament with a run of five victories and a draw in the last six games across competitions.

They did take just one point from the opening two matches at the Euro but Zlatko Dalic’s men did miss numerous chances in a 0-3 loss to Spain. They also conceded the stoppage-time equalizer in a 2-2 stalemate to Albania in the second round.

As for Italy, they looked lethargic in both matches. Azzurri clinched a 2-1 comeback victory over Albania on the opening day but they failed to do much offensively against Spain.

Last but not least, Italy are winless in the previous eight encounters with Croatia.

A tight and nervous affair expected in Leipzig

With a place in the knockout phase at stake, we expect a cagey and low-scoring contest between these rivals.

Italy registered only four shots (one on target) in a 0-1 defeat to Spain on Wednesday.

Also, just one of the previous seven head-to-head outings between Croatia and Italy provided three or more goals.

The Under 2.5 goals pick is well worth backing at the 1.90 odds in these circumstances.

Steffen Schmidt- June 21, 2024

Croatia vs Italy Betting Tips

Croatia to win

OK

3.30 Odds

Under 2.5 goals

OK

1.94 Odds

Correct Score: Croatia 1-0

OK

12.00 Odds