Russia VS Croatia Match Prediction

Croatia and Russia have met just three times before. They drew both matches 0-0 in qualifying for Euro 2008, before Croatia won 3-1 in a friendly in 2015. Fyodor Smolov gave Russia the lead, but Nikola Kalinic, Marcelo Brozovic and Mario Mandzukic all scored after the break to earn Croatia a 3-1 win in Rostov. 

%HEAD-TO-HEAD-STATS-BANNER%

Russia vs Croatia Stats

 Croatia have never previously lost to Russia, winning one and drawing two of the previous fixtures. 

 Croatia are unbeaten in their last five matches.

 Russia are bidding to become the 14th World Cup host nation to reach the semi-final – 67% of teams have been successful in reaching the last-four of their home tournament.

 After seven winless matches prior to the tournament, Russia have only lost one of their last five now.

Croatia vs Russia Betting Tips

Croatia are big favourites to beat the host nation, but Russia were not even supposed to reach the quarter-finals. They have upset the odds before and they can upset the odds again.

Croatia looked below-par in the second-round match against Denmark, which they needed a penalty shoot-out to progress from, while Russia managed to hold Spain – and also beat them on penalties.

With Artem Dzyuba a nuisance up front – he now has three in four games for the tournament – Russia have the firepower to beat Croatia’s experienced side.

With home advantage and the momentum a home World Cup brings, they will still need to be at their absolute best to stop the likes of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, however.

The key will be stopping the two central midfielders – something Denmark managed last time out, but Argentina failed to do in the group stage.

Russia have been tactically spot-on so far though, apart from their final group-game defeat – and they were already through by that point.

Croatia might be favourites, but it would be dangerous to back against the host nation as they bid to repeat the heroics of the likes of South Korea, Chile and Sweden in reaching the last-four of their home tournament against the odds.

Russia vs Croatia Recommended bets with odds

Croatia are favourites to beat Russia, but the fact they are 6/5 to win shows that the bookmakers are not certain – they would have been odds-on favourites to win this prior to the tournament.

Russia – at 3/1 to win with Bet365, Betfair and Betway – have upset the odds already in this tournament and with the semi-finals in sight, and Artem Dzyuba in good form, they can continue their World Cup journey.

The generous odds on the hosts mean a ‘draw no bet’ selection is also worthwhile – Russia are 8/5 yo win (draw no bet) with Betfair.

Dzyuba, who has three goals to his name, is a best price of 31/10 with 888sport to score at any time. Russia’s only concern will be the other end and both teams to score has been set at 13/10 with 10Bet.

By the same token, you can get 8/15 on there being over 1.5 goals, and that improves to 17/10 with Bet365 for over 2.5 goals.

Russia vs Croatia Top three bets

1) Both teams to score at 13/10 with Betfair
2) Artem Dzyuba to score at any time at 31/10 with 888sport
3) Total goals = over 2.5 at 17/10 with Bet365.

Russia vs Croatia Prediction

Russia can write another chapter into their incredible World Cup story by upsetting the odds and beating Croatia in the quarter-final. Home advantage has made such a difference.

Correct score prediction: Russia 2-1 Croatia

Correct score best odds: 14/1 (Bet365)

Russia Team News

Igor Smolnikov is available again after being suspended for the match against Spain, while Alan Dzagoev has also made a quicker-than-expected return from the injury he suffered in the opening group game and could be available. Yuri Zhirkov is Russia’s biggest doubt after being forced off at half-time against Spain, which could mean Fyodor Kudryashov starting at left-back. After a tactical shuffle against Spain, joint-top scorer Denis Cheryshev is expected to return the starting line-up against Croatia (or Dzagoev is another option).

Russia Key Players

Denis Cheryshev- Scored three goals in the group stage having started the tournament as a substitute.

Artem Dzyuba- His goal against Spain was his third of the tournament too – another who forced his way into the starting XI after only featuring on the bench initially.

Aleksandr Golovin- Creative midfielder will look to supply big striker Dzyuba with the support he needs against Croatia

Russia Round of 16

Russia 1-1 Spain (Dzyuba; Russia won 4-3 on penalties)

Spain took an early lead against Russia, as expected, in their second-round tie but Artem Dzyuba’s penalty brought the hosts level before half-time. With nothing to separate the two from then on, it came down to penalties, with Igor Akinfeev saving from both Koke and Iago Aspas to give Russia victory.

Russia Team Form

Russia team went seven matches without a win ahead of the World Cup but have lost only once at the finals – the 3-0 defeat to Uruguay in their final group game. Prior to that they beat Saudi Arabia 5-0 before a 3-1 win against Egypt. That set up a last-16 tie with Spain, where Igor Akinfeev’s penalty shoot-out heroics earned the hosts a shock win.

Russia Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line-up: 4-2-3-1

Croatia Team News

Ivan Strinic is Croatia’s only doubt after limping off against Denmark. That will probably mean a start for Josip Pivaric – one of two Croatians to miss a penalty in the shoot-out. Croatia, apart from their final group game where they rotated several players, have been largely consistent with their team selection, with Vedran Corluka and Andrej Kramaric among those having to make do with places on the bench.

Croatia Key Players

Luka Modric (central midfielder) – Missed a penalty against Denmark but has otherwise been in excellent form at this World Cup.

Ivan Rakitic (central midfielder) – The second part of Croatia’s El Clasico midfield axis – he scored the winning penalty against Denmark.

Mario Mandzukic (striker) – Scored Croatia’s goal against Denmark – his first of the tournament and 31st in total for Croatia.

Croatia Round of 16

Croatia 1-1 Denmark (Mandzukic; Croatia won 3-2 on penalties)

After conceding in the first minute against Denmark, Croatia hit back immediately with the score 1-1 after just four minutes. That was the end of the goalscoring, however, with Luka Modric missing a last-minute penalty in extra time. In the shoot-out, however, after both teams failed with their first attempts, Modric was one of three Croatians to net. Danijel Subasic’s three saves in the shoot-out equaled the World Cup record as Croatia triumphed 3-2.

Croatia Team Form

Croatia football team are now unbeaten in five matches, even if the draw with Denmark (and penalty shoot-out victory) ended a four-match winning streak in 90 mins. They have not lost since a friendly against Brazil at Anfield, beating Senegal 2-1 in their final World Cup warm-up before dominating Group D – Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0, Argentina 3-0 and Iceland 2-1 to top the group with a 100 per cent record. Danijel Subasic’s penalty heroics ensured they qualified for the last eight.

Croatia Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up:4-1-4-1

After beating Spain on penalties and opening up the draw as a result, Russia now need one more win to reach the semi-finals. Considering they were not expected to qualify from their group, their remarkable run has seen pre-tournament predictions torn up and they now have the momentum to progress further. Croatia won all three group games but needed penalties to beat Denmark in the second round. It will not be easy, but Russia could continue their remarkable journey.

Russia are looking to become the 14th host nation to reach the semi-finals of their home World Cup. Two-thirds of all previous World Cups have seen the hosts reach at least the last four.