Croatia vs Iceland Prediction, Betting Tips and Preview
It’s a top of the table clash in World Cup qualifying Group I this Saturday as Croatia welcome Iceland. Read the match predictions to find out why a home win is the betting tip in Zagreb. In the last round of games Croatia won 0-1 away to Finland while Iceland were 2-0 winners at home to Turkey.
Croatia vs Iceland Preview
Croatia will start with Monaco stopper Danijel Subasic between the sticks. La Liga stars Luka Modrić and Ivan Rakitić may start on the bench but Inter’s Ivan Perišić is expected to set the pace in midfield. Mario Mandžukić is chasing 30 goals for his country and will be joined by Andrej Kramarić in attack.
Iceland should start with Fulham’s Ragnar Sigurdsson in defence but Brisol City’s Magnússon could miss out. There will be two premier League stars in midfield with Burnley’s Gudmundsson and Swansea’s Sigurdsson. Hammarby’s Arnor Smárason will be partnered by Bodvarsson of Wolverhampton Wanderers in attack.
Team Predictions Croatia vs Iceland
Croatia 4-4-2 formation: Subasic; Vrsaljko, Mitrovic, Vida, Pivaric; Brozovic, Badelj, Kovacic, Perisic; Kramaric, Mandzukic
Iceland 4-4-2 formation: Halldorsson; Saevarsson, Arnason, R. Sigurdsson, Skulason; Gudmundsson, G. Sigurdsson, B. Bjarnason, E. Bjarnason; Smarason, Bodvarsson
Croatia vs Iceland Betting Tips
- Croatia have won 6 drawn 4 and lost 0 of their last 10 matches
- Iceland have won 5 drawn 3 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Croatia have scored an average of 2.5 goals and conceded an average of 0.5 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Iceland have scored an average of 2.0 goals and conceded an average of 1.5 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Croatia’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Iceland’s previous 10 matches
Croatia vs Iceland Prediction
Croatia began the qualification process with a 1-1 draw against Turkey. They then made light work of Kosovo, beating them 0-6 away before grinding out a second successive win in Finland. Back in front of their own supporters, Croatia will be looking to move clear at the top of the table.
Iceland drew 1-1 away to Ukraine in their opening match. They then made heavy weather of a 3-2 home victory over Finland with two dramatic late goals needed to prevent an embarrassing defeat. There was no such drama in the win over Turkey but this will be tougher.
Croatia are unbeaten at home in 14 matches, a run which started with a 2-0 victory over Iceland back in 2013. The hosts have kept an impressive 10 clean sheets in that sequence and will be tough to break down. Iceland have won only 2 of their previous 10 away games and have lost 7 of those. The visitors will, as ever, give this a good go but I think Croatia have the quality to come out on top.
Free Betting Tips
Match Prediction
CROATIA at 4/9 with Sportingbet
Over/Under Prediction
OVER 2.5 goals at 19/20 with Betvictor
Correct Score Prediction
CROATIA 2-1 at 8/1 with bet365
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