Hungary VS Croatia Match Prediction
2019-03-24
17:00:00
Hungary
VS
Croatia
Our Prediction Tip
Croatia will win this match.
2019-03-2417:00:00 Croatia will win this match.
Hungary will be looking to record its first victory over Croatia having lost four times and drawn three times with their visitors in seven prior matches. The last two meetings, taking place in 2016 and 2008 respectively, ended 1-1 on Hungarian turf.
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Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:
Hungary are at 15/4 to win, a draw is at 13/5, and a Croatia win is at 8/11.
After the first round of fixtures in Group E, it is Slovakia that lead the way on goal difference ahead of Croatia with each holding three points. Wales have yet to kick a ball in anger in the group, so they sit in third with nothing on the board at all, while Azerbaijan and Hungary round out the group. It’s really a very tough group to call in a couple of areas, but the consensus is that it’s Croatia’s to control. Even with an honestly aging squad, they have the talent to top it or at least go through via a second place finish. Hungary, in the eyes of many, will be fighting hard to not finish last as Azerbaijan looked to have laid down a marker in their opening defeat in Croatia. If Hungary don’t get something from this match, it could be a long, nigh on impossible road for them to pave to the Euros.
Hungary have only made it to one major tournament since 1990, with that one being the Euros in 2016. When they did get there, they made it out of the group stage and then were ousted. So, to say the least, this a team in dire need of something good to happen to get them going back in the right direction. They have languished well below the level of play that they were once known for, and that is something they are never likely to get back. The past year for them has included three wins, two draws, and four losses. In the Nations League, they recorded three wins in Group C2 but ultimately came up short by being two points off the pace set by Finland in the end. So they didn’t earn promotion but also didn’t suffer the ignominy of relegation, either.
Croatia meanwhile come off yet another strong showing in the World Cup. After reaching the semis back in 1998, they followed it up with one better 20 years later to finish runner-up to France. They were very good in the clutch throughout in Russia, and that helped them get through despite a lot of dicey situations late in matches. In their last year of action, they have nine wins, two penalty wins, two draws, and four losses. They have not fared well since Russia, however, with only three wins coming for them in their last eight matches. One of them was against Jordan, the other against Spain, and then Thursday’s labored triumph over Azerbaijan. In the Nations League, they had a chance to win the group and go to the finals this summer but ended up last by throwing away a lead against England in the final match of the group in Group A4, meaning they were relegated to Group B for the next edition.
Betfair have no for both sides scoring at 1.85.
They also have Croatia winning at half and full time at 2.87.
It’s been three straight draws in Hungary between these two sides, but the Croatians have what it takes to turn the screw and break down their unwelcoming hosts. They do just that and get an important three points to start their qualifying campaign strongly.
Marco Rossi has a few injury woes currently ahead of this match. Defenders Attila Fiola and Endre Botka are out along with forwards Roland Ugrai and Roland Sallai, the Freiburg man.
Hungarian hopes have yet to get off the mark as of yet in this competition, but they could well get their first goal through Adam Szalai here. He and his side had little success at Slovakia on Thursday, but he scored four times in the Nations League and the Hoffenheim man now has 19 in 53 caps for his country as a result. At the back, they need RB Leipzig man Willi Orban to step up in a big way. They were ran ragged by Albert Rusnak on Thursday, so they need a much better showing from the relatively inexperienced defender here.
Hungary have two losses, two wins, and a draw in their last five matches:
2-0 loss at Slovakia
2-0 home win vs Finland (UNL)
2-0 home win vs Estonia (UNL)
3-3 draw at Estonia (UNL)
1-0 loss at Greece (UNL)
Zlatko Dalic still has quite a strong team to choose from, but he does have some choices to make up front now that Mario Mandzukic has retired. Apart from him, fellow forward Marko Pjaca is out injured, along with a number of defenders. The notable ones are Sime Vrsaljko and Josip Pivaric, who will miss out as a result. Atletico Madrid striker Nikola Kalinic is another that has been left out.
Croatia were forced to labor for their win at home to Azerbaijan, but they got it done through Andrej Kramaric in the end. The Hoffenheim striker has scored 14 goals now in 44 appearances for his country, and he will look to keep up their fine tradition of overcoming the odds. Ante Rebic also contributed in a big way, coming off the bench and then setting up Kramaric for the winner ten minutes later. His assist helped pave the way to all three points and despite having only two goals in 28 showings for the Croats, he could well be preferred now.
Croatia have three wins, a loss, and a draw in their last five matches:
2-1 home win vs Azerbaijan
2-1 loss at England (UNL)
3-2 home win vs Spain (UNL)
2-1 home win vs Jordan (Fri)
0-0 home draw vs England (UNL)
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