UEFA Nations League: France vs. Croatia Preview, Odds, Prediction

France and Croatia meet again in the UEFA Nations League, only this time the World champs will have the home-field advantage. The situation isn’t looking great for the Gauls, the reigning champions of this competition as well, because they have only two points in three events, sitting dead last in the group. Meanwhile, Croatia started a bit slower but improved over the course of time, and they have four points, the same as Austria, two fewer than Denmark, whom they beat on the road in the most recent event. The overall situation is promising a good battle at Stade de France in Paris. 

Preview

France (-200) saved its skin in Austria, with Kylian Mbappe tying the result at 1-1 in the 83rd minute. This was the third game in a row in which the Gauls hadn’t won. After suffering a defeat at home in the UNL opener against Denmark, 1-2, they went to Croatia, where they played 1-1 with the hosts.

In Austria, we’ve seen France pretty pale in the opening 45 minutes. Yes, they didn’t play with the strongest lineup, but then again, the overall performance wasn’t at a satisfying level. Mbappe’s speed changed the situation in the second half, yet even with him on the field, France didn’t leave a convincing impression.

Four of their last five games were with both teams to score and a moderate efficiency, 2 or 3 goals. The only one which wasn’t was a 5-0 victory over South Africa in a friendly international.

Croatia (+450) surprised everyone in Denmark, winning 0-1, and outplaying the hosts. We can say without any hesitation that the Croats won this one fair and square, being better than the home, snapping their 10-game winning streak in Copenhagen. 

Zlatko Dalic’s team opened the competition with a terrible loss at home, 0-3 against Austria, and that was maybe the biggest upset in the entire round one. They played 1-1 with France in Split and beat Denmark following that.

They, too, play games with a moderate efficiency, 2 or 3 goals, with just one (the latest in Denmark) in the past five ending outside that range. This is a tactically very well-endowed team who knows to keep the result and hold the ball when needed. 

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Kante is out, the same as Lucas Hernandez. Mbappe is questionable to play all 90 minutes, and it could be possible to see him starting on the bench and coming in afterward.

Ivan Perisic and Josko Gvardiol can’t play for the Croats.

Head to Head Game

The latest game was a few days ago in Split. Rabiot brought a lead to the guests in the 52nd minute, but Kramaric leveled from the penalty in the 83rd, keeping at least one point for the hosts. 

Since the 2018 World Cup finals, these teams have played three times, and both teams have scored in all of those events.

Prediction

Despite the fact that the Croats are on the rise, France can’t allow themselves to lose this event. We are backing up the champs to win, and anything else but that would be a massive sensation, which would complicate their situation in the group and possibly lead to the relegation to the second tier of the UEFA Nations League.

Pick: France wins

 

UEFA Nations League: Denmark vs. Austria Preview, Odds, Prediction