Croatia take on the visitors Latvia in the round 5 match of UEFA Euro-2024 qualifications. The match will be played on Friday, September 8th at Stadion HNK Rijeka (Rijeka).
Croatia once again confirmed its high status. Many believed that the Checkered Ones had experienced a decline after their historic achievement as runners-up in the 2018 World Cup – they had to wait for the next generation. But even now, there are young stars, just remember the €100 million that Manchester City paid for Guardiola in the summer. At the end of the previous calendar year, Croatia performed well in the new World Cup, finishing one step below where they were four years earlier, securing the third-place, a bronze position. In the summer, as part of the UEFA Nations League Final Four, the team defeated the Netherlands in extra time, reaching a 4-2 scoreline. However, Modric and his team didn't win the title in this format: in the decisive penalty shootout, Spain turned out to be luckier... In the qualification, Croatia began in the spring with a missed victory against Wales, conceding in added minutes. However, they later secured a masterful 2-0 victory against Turkey.
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Latvia are too weak in standard qualifications. The Red and Whites did participate in the 2004 Euros, which not all national teams can boast about. But for almost two decades, they haven't achieved much. It was only last year that they managed to show some results, winning their group in the UEFA Nations League, albeit in Division D, competing against other underdogs like Liechtenstein, Andorra, and Moldova. In 2023, the Baltic team faced stronger opponents in the classic qualification. They failed to earn any points there, losing to Wales, Turkey, and Armenia, although each time with a minimal difference, ranging from 2-3 (the same was the case with Ireland in a March friendly) to 0-1. A couple of times, Dainis Kazakevich's charges conceded a draw in the final stages, letting in the decisive goal.
The teams have played each other four times, with Croatia consistently taking victory in these encounters. Croatia have already suffered setbacks trying to win pragmatically, so it's unlikely they will settle for a minimal difference now. We recommend betting on Croatia to win with a -2.5 goal handicap.
Prediction for the match: Croatia to win with -2.5 handicap.
