Croatia v Czech Republic betting tips: Can Schick repeat Hampden heroics?
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Croatia were pre-tournament favourites to finish runners-up in Group D but the 1-0 defeat by England means they have been overtaken by Czech Republic who beat Scotland 2-0 on Monday.
Despite that reverse, the 2018 World Cup finalists are 23/20 to pick up their first win and get their Euro 2020 campaign back on track.
It promises to be an intriguing encounter as we highlight some of the markets and odds in our Croatia v Czech Republic betting tips.
Match Odds
Croatia were 25/1 to win Euro 2020 at the start of the tournament but their defeat at Wembley means they have drifted to 40/1, whereas the Czechs are 80/1.
The two teams met in the group stage of Euro 2016 when Croatia led 2-0 with 14 minutes to go only for Milan Skoda and a late Tomas Necid penalty earning the Czechs their only point of the group stage.
Another draw is available at 11/5 and a share of the spoils with goals at both ends is 17/5 while Croatia to be leading at half-time and the game to finish all square as it did five years ago can be backed at 14/1.
Croatia have failed to win their previous three games and lost 1-0 to Belgium and England in their last two outings. That scoreline is 15/2 but they have never lost to Czech Republic, who start as 13/5 outsiders.
There have been goals at both ends in all three previous meetings between the nations which is available at 10/11 while we go 6/5 on three or more goals which has occurred in 12 of Croatia’s last 17 games.
Talking Tactics
Croatia skipper Luka Modric was kept on a tight leash by Kalvin Phillips in the defeat at Wembley, so Dalic must ensure the Real Madrid midfielder gets the room to create the goals they need to beat the Czechs.
Modric played on the right in a 4-3-3 formation, with Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric either side of main striker Ante Rebic.
#CRO #Family #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/Q0M6KmzjaS
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) June 15, 2021
Patrik Schick was the star of the show in Glasgow where he put the Czechs in front with a towering header just before half-time and then extended the lead after the break with what could be the goal of the tournament – a 50-yard chip over keeper David Marshall.
The Bayer Leverkusen striker was the focal point in a 4-2-3-1 formation in which West Ham’s Tomas Soucek was one of two holding midfielders.
Goalscorer Odds
Schick’s heroics mean he is 5/1 to score the opening goal, 13/5 to score and 22/1 to grab another double while Perisic is 11/2, 14/5 and 25/1 in the same markets.
The Inter Milan attacker, who scored the equaliser against England in the World Cup semi-final, also bagged the opener against the Czechs five years ago.
Match Info
Where: Hampden Park, Glasgow
When: 17:00, Friday 18th June
How to watch: BBC
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
