Pablo Sarabia Spain
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Croatia v Spain betting tips: La Roja hope for wonderful Copenhagen result

| 18.06.2021

Spain were in danger of failing to qualify for the last 16 but a crushing 5-0 victory against Slovakia saw them through as Group E runners-up behind Sweden.

Luis Enrique’s troops are fancied at 3/5 to reach the quarter-finals, where they will meet France or Switzerland, whereas 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia are 11/2 to cause an upset in Copenhagen.

The two nations clashed in the Nations League towards the end of 2018 so let’s check out some of the markets and odds in our Croatia v Spain betting tips.

Match Odds

Spain drew their first two matches against Sweden and Poland despite having 85% and 76% possession in both games and they were living on their nerves when Alvaro Morata had a penalty saved in the first half against Slovakia.

Martin Dubravka went from hero to zero when he inexplicably punched the ball into his own net after the initial shot had struck the bar and it was plain sailing when Aymeric Laporte headed home in first-half stoppage time.

The 2008 and 2012 champions smashed Croatia 6-0 almost three years ago and lost the return 3-2 but only Sergio Busquets remains from those games so perhaps we should not read too much into those results.

Mateo Kovacic Luka Modric Croatia

However, over 2.5 goals is available at 21/20 while four or more can be backed at 27/10.

Both teams conceded a combined three goals during the group phase so on the flip side it could be a low-scoring encounter and we go 7/10 on two goals or fewer or Spain to win and under 3.5 is 11/10.

Spain were ahead inside 30 minutes against Poland and Slovakia and are 2/1 to be leading after half an hour while we go 16/1 on La Roja to be in front at the break and a draw in normal time as it was against Poland.

For those who like bigger prices, Croatia are 12/1 and 20/1 to win on penalties or in extra time respectively while Spain are 12/1 and 17/2 in the equivalent markets.

Talking Tactics

Morata’s wasteful finishing saw him substituted against Slovakia and he could make way for Ferran Torres, whose brilliant backheel with his first touch has put him in with a chance of starting in a 4-3-3 formation.

It was Pablo Sarabia’s shot led to Spain’s opener and the PSG winger scored the third so he is likely to start against the Croats.

Croatia qualified with a 3-1 victory over Scotland in which head coach Zlatko Dalic also deployed a 4-3-3 system with Nikola Vlasic and Ivan Perisic playing either side of Bruno Petkovic up front.

However, Dalic must find a replacement for Perisic after he tested positive for Covid-10 which means he must self-isolate for 10 days.

Goalscorer Odds

Despite his penalty woes, Morata is the 7/2 co-favourite with Gerard Moreno to open the scoring, although Torres is 9/2 to get the ball rolling or 12/5 to find the net.

Laporte weighs in with the occasional goal for his club Manchester City and got his first international strike in only his fourth appearance for Spain on Wednesday and is 12/1 to bag another in Denmark.

Croatia were clinical in a 3-1 win at Hampden Park and their goalscorers Vlasic, Perisic and Luka Modric are available at 5/1, 9/2 and 8/1 respectively just to score.

Match Info

Where: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen

When: 17:00, Monday 28th June

How to watch: TBC

View the latest Croatia v Spain odds

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication

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Author

Warren Barner