Croatia v Italy: Match Preview & Odds
Here at betting.bet you’ll find the latest team news and exclusive betting tips as well as the best pre-match odds
Croatia and Italy meet in Leipzig on Monday in a crucial final group game at Euro 2024. Spain have already sealed top spot in Group B but the winner of this fixture between two of the competition’s biggest clubs will join them in the knockout stage. As we look forward to Croatia v Italy, here at betting.bet you’ll find the latest team news and exclusive betting tips as well as the best pre-match odds from our partners at Betfred.
Group B Update
Croatia’s participation in Euro 2024 is hanging by a thread after a return of just one point from their first two matches. The 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists lost 3-0 against Spain in their opening group match but looked set to register their first win against Albania last Wednesday before conceding a last-gasp equaliser in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Italy bounced back from conceding an early goal against Albania to win 2-1 in their opening match however last Wednesday they were very much second best in a 1-0 defeat against Spain. An own-goal from Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori proved the difference in Gelsenkirchen but it was a game that Spain had dominated throughout, boasting 57.1% possession and attempting 20 shots on goal compared to just 4 for the Italians.
Team News
Nikola Vlasic withdrew from the Croatia squad through injury prior to their draw with Albania but there is a clean bill of health amongst the remaining 25 players in the squad. Ivan Periic was named at left-back in the draw against Albania after starting the defeat to Spain on the bench and the 35-year-old is set to retain his place in the starting XI on Monday.
Italy are on the brink of becoming the first reigning European champions to be eliminated at the group stage of the very next European Championships since Greece in 2008 and head coach Luciano Spalletti should ring the changes after two underwhelming performances against Albania and Spain. The likes of Jorginho and Gianluca Scamacca are set to drop to the bench for this must-win fixture.
Predicted Line Ups
Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Perisic, Modric, Sucic, Kovacic, Pasalic, Budimir, Kramaric
Italy: Donnarumma, Darmian, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco, Cristante, Barella, Chiesa, Pellegrini, Zaccagni, Retegui
Betting Tips
This summer’s European Championships has proved to be one tournament too far for Croatia’s ‘Golden Generation’ and whilst the current Italian squad is light years off some of the great Azzurri sides we’ve seen in the past, they should have too much for Croatia on Monday. Italy look good value for the win at 13/10.
Both Croatia and Italy have conceded first in every group game they’ve been involved in this summer and you get the feeling that the first goal in Leipzig on Monday could be key. Therefore, we really like the 7/4 on offer for the game to goalless at half-time.
Andrej Kramaric is the only Croatian to have netted so far in this summer’s tournament and with 29 international goals to his name already, the Hoffenheim forward looks a solid option to score at any time at 13/5. There are no standout options for Italy in the same market but we’re prepared to persevere with Juventus attacker, Federico Chiesa. The 26-year-old is undoubtedly one of the most talented members of this Italian squad and just needs that bit of luck to get his tournament up and running. Chiesa is 11/4 to score at any time against Croatia.
Match Odds
| Croatia | Draw | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 11/5 | 23/10 | 13/10 |
Predicted Match Result: Croatia 1-2 Italy (8/1)
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