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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kick-off: 1945, 15/10/2023
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
TV: Viaplay Sports and S4C
Wales are at a crucial stage in their bid to qualify for Euro 2024 with a crunch qualification match against Croatia on Sunday.
However, just seven points from their five matches, currently sitting in fourth place, has left them on the back foot in their quest to qualify for Germany next year.
The two teams have played out stalemates in their previous two encounters, the most recent being the only time Croatia have dropped points in the group ahead of the October international break.
It is 12/5 for a draw, which will certainly help the visitors more than the hosts in our opening Wales vs Croatia prediction.
The fixtures and injuries have not fallen kindly for Rob Page’s side in October as they lost some key members of the squad to face the Nations League runners-up.
Despite this, Wales boosted their confidence with a much-needed 4-0 friendly win at home to Gibraltar on Thursday while their rivals faced one another in Group D as they had matchday six off.
However, both Wales captain Aaron Ramsey and Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson will not feature at the Cardiff City Stadium due to respective knee and hamstring injuries.
When speaking about Johnson’s injury at the squad announcement, Page said: “The communication between us and Tottenham has been first-class. It’s about having mutual respect. Both managers want a talented player fit so it’s about working together.
“I’m not going to insist that he has to come away and we’re going to play him, jeopardise his safety and health. I wouldn’t do that. But they also understand the importance of our games.”
Wales still have enough quality and creativity in attacking areas to hurt Croatia, especially on home soil, with the likes of Dan James, Harry Wilson and David Brooks.
The last four head-to-head meetings have resulted in both teams scoring and, looking at the Wales vs Croatia odds, it is 19/20 for it to occur for the fifth successive time in Cardiff.
Croatia began the week in pole position for a qualifying berth for Euro 2024 with 10 points from four games but their bid took a wobble with a 1-0 home defeat to Turkey, who now occupy top spot in Group D on 13 points.
With only two teams progressing from the group, every point matters for Zlatko Dalic’s side, who are ranked sixth in the FIFA world rankings.
Dalic, who has been in charge since 2017 and had led his country to the 2018 World Cup and this year’s Nations League finals, will be without Tottenham star Ivan Perisic through an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee.
“Of course, we will greatly miss Ivan, both as a player and as one of the leaders of this generation,” Dalic told the Croatian FA’s official website.
“However, this does not change our ambition to take two more significant steps towards our goal through these two matches, which is qualifying for Euro 2024.
“We did an excellent job in September but now we face the two toughest opponents in the group and we must replicate the level of concentration, desire, and quality approach we had against Latvia and Armenia.”
Former Leicester striker Andrej Kramaric has scored three goals in his last four Croatia appearances but missed the Turkey defeat through injury and is likely to be absent in Cardiff.
Benfica striker Petar Musa led the line in Thursday’s loss and he is 21/10 to score at anytime, which would be his first international goal, to wrap up our Wales vs Croatia betting tips.
Additional stats
Last result:
WALES 4-0 Gibraltar – Davies, Moore (2), Broadhead
CROATIA 0-1 Turkey
Head-to-head: Croatia 1-1 Wales, Wales 1-1 Croatia, Croatia 2-1 Wales, Wales 1-2 Croatia, Croatia 2-0 Wales
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