England vs Croatia – Euro 2020 Betting Tips

The last time when these two sides met in a bigger tournament, England were left red-faced after the match, the winner was scored by a certain Mandzukic on that night in Russia. England and Croatia are facing each other in their respective opening game of EURO 2020 at the Wembley Stadium in London on the 13th of June 2021 at 18:30 IST. 

England Form and Team News

England cruised through the qualification round with a commanding campaign filled with goals and wins along the way. After the eight games played, they won as many as seven matches while losing just a game. They scored the second-highest number of goals in the campaign netting 37 goals in the eight games. They just conceded six goals in the process. They finished as the number one team from Group A scoring 21 points with the likes of the Czech Republic coming in a distant second with 15 points. England were slotted into a relatively easier group which made the way that much simpler. They have won eight games in the last ten while also being on a six-match winning streak coming into the first game of their EURO 2020 campaign against Croatia at home on Sunday.

Coach Gareth Southgate has had a stellar start to his coaching career over the years with the national team and is looking all set to translate that into winning more trophies which considering the team he has at his disposal is not a tough thing to do. Harry Kane, Sterling and Calvert-Lewin are the strikers in the squad while Rashford, Sancho, Mason Mount, Phil Foden, Grealish, Saka, Henderson, Bellingham and Rice would all slot into the midfield while also being lethal on the attack. Chilwell, Maguire, James, Shaw, Walker and Stones would be in defense and Dean Henderson is likely to keep the goal with Jordan Pickford as a potential backup keeper.

Croatia Form and Team News

Croatia after the 2018 Russia World Cup have not shown the level of consistency they showed during the elite tournament. In the EURO qualification rounds, they were part of Group E with Wales, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan in the mix. Croatia finished as the number one team in the group with 17 points from eight games played. They won five games while losing just one game in the process. They also drew two games in the campaign. They scored the highest number of goals for any team in the group with 17 strikes in the back of the net. Their last ten games have not been the best in terms of the results gathered. They won just three games in the last ten matches, losing in an unusually high five games out of the ten played. So one can say they are not going into the EURO 2020 with a good record, but considering they have a dubious distinction of picking themselves up in elite competitions every time, we cannot count out Croatia just because of their recent record. 

Zlatko Dalic, the Croatian national football team coach will once again form the x-factor for the side with his tactical show. It’s not often that you refer a coach to an X-factor but such has been the show from Dalic during his tenure that he deserves to get that credit. Rebic, Kramaric, Petkovic and Budimir would make up the front line. Superstar midfielder Luka Modric, Kovacic, Perisic, Brozovic and Pasalic complete the playmaker’s list. Lovren, Vida, Caleta-Car, Barisic and Gvardiol are in defence. Livakovic and Kalinic are the goalkeepers in the side to complete the squad.

Odds by Casumo

England are favorites to win according to the Casumo Sportsbook. They are placed at 1.74 odds while Croatia is placed at 4.90. The odds for a draw is 3.70.

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Our Tipster’s Angle

 Croatia have won just three games in the last ten which almost tells their story coming into this tournament. England have managed to win 80 percent of their games in the last ten which naturally makes them favorites to win the opening game for both sides. The head to head record doesn’t have much where England have won four, Croatia have won three, but just with the present form, we can safely say, England can topple Croatia on Sunday.

Tip 1: Total Goals under 2.5

Three of the last four matches that England have played across competitions have had the total goals to be under 2.5. While playing at home, England have had both of their last two matches where the total goals have been under 2.5. In the case of Croatia, four of the last five matches played across competitions, have had the total goals to be under 2.5. Playing away across competitions, their last two matches also had the total goals to be under 2.5. In the Qualification rounds, Croatia have had two of the last four total matches where the above condition was satisfied. Out of their last two head to head matches, one match had the total goals to be under 2.5. So it’s quite likely the match will have under 2.5 goals. According to the Casumo Sportsbook, the odds for the total goals to be under 2.5 is 1.63

Tip 2: Both teams not to score

In the last nine matches played by England across competitions, eight of those have had both teams not to score. While playing at home, four of the last five matches England have played across competitions have had both teams not scoring. In the qualification rounds, England had all three of the last three matches where both teams have not scored. Four of the last five matches Croatia have been part of have had the above condition being satisfied. Playing away, all of their last two matches Croatia was part of has turned out to have both teams not scoring. One of the last two head to head matches between the two sides also had yielded the condition as mentioned above, so it’s most likely both teams might not end up scoring. The odds for Both Teams not to score according to the Casumo Sportsbook is 1.63.

Conclusion

Croatia are going through a very lean phase while England on the other hand are in a purple patch. Croatia would want to repeat the 2018 World Cup Semifinal heroics while England would want to avenge that loss and start this championship afresh. Summarising on a couple of bets from above:

1. Total goals under 2.5 @ 1.60
2. Both teams not to score @ 1.63

Check out our Euro2020 Odds Here