Croatia and Turkey predictions as the Group D rivals face off in a crunch qualifier on Thursday in Osijek. In Group D, with leaders Croatia and Turkey being neck and neck in points despite having played an extra match, many anticipate a tight affair in Zagreb come Thursday. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Match Live Thursday, 12th October at 7:45 pm In:
Croatia vs Turkey Predictions
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Group D Derby: Croatia and Turkey Battle for Supremacy at Opus Arena
Key Stats
– Six of the last ten meetings between Croatia and Turkey have ended in a draw.
– Kerem Akturkoglu has netted four goals in his last eight club appearances, making him a prime threat for Croatia’s defence.
Opus Arena is set to witness a thrilling showdown as Croatia and Turkey lock horns in the Group D derby. With the top position in the standings up for grabs, stakes couldn’t be higher. Given the array of talents on both sides, this promises to be a contest worth watching.
Team Analysis
Croatia’s Squad: Luka Modric and his teammates are being widely regarded as the favourites to clinch this encounter. This confidence is bolstered by the strength and depth of the Croatian squad. However, they do have setbacks to consider. While Manchester City’s star midfielder, Mateo Kovacic, has been included in the squad, Hajduk Split’s Marko Livaja has announced his retirement from international football after an altercation with manager Zlatko Dalic. This, coupled with the injury to Dinamo Zagreb’s Bruno Petkovic, means the home team is slightly depleted in their attacking options.
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In terms of performances, Croatia have showcased formidable prowess. With an impressive average BettingTips4You Expert Rating of 7.07, they rank 5th out of 53 in the European Championship Qualification for 2024. Players like Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric, boasting ratings of 7.95 and 7.68 respectively, have been influential in the midfield, making Croatia’s central play one of their key strengths.
Turkey’s Squad: Turkey, however, are not to be taken lightly. Despite a lacklustre 1-1 draw against Armenia and the absence of the suspended Merih Demiral, the Turks have an arsenal of attacking talent. Their star player to watch is Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu. With an average BettingTips4You Expert Rating of 6.93, Turkey ranks 17th in the competition. While they might seem a tad behind Croatia in terms of statistics, football is unpredictable.
Numbers Never Lie
When it comes to attacking, Croatia, with an average of 2.3 goals scored per match, exhibits superiority over Turkey, who average 1.6. Croatia’s ball possession stands at an impressive 66% compared to Turkey’s 63.4%. But what stands out is Croatia’s accuracy in the opposition half, registering at 82%. This means Croatia are likely to have more control and say in the attacking third of the pitch.
On the defensive front, Croatia have shown exceptional resilience, conceding only 0.3 goals per game, while Turkey’s defence has been breached 1.2 times on average per match. Clean sheets tell a similar story, with Croatia recording three and Turkey just one.
Predictions
- Match Outcome: Considering Croatia’s form and home advantage, coupled with Turkey’s defensive lapses, we predict a home win. However, with both teams being offensively potent, betting on both teams to score is a viable option.
- Correct Score Prediction: Drawing from the recent history of these sides and considering the circumstances, a 2-1 win for Croatia appears the most plausible. Both teams possess the firepower to breach the opposition, but also have the defensive mettle to restrict a goal fest.
- Goalscorer Prediction: For Turkey, Kerem Akturkoglu has been in impressive form, scoring four in his last eight club appearances. Considering his recent near misses against Croatia, he’s our pick to find the back of the net.
- Corner Analysis: Croatia’s average corners per game stands at 6.3 compared to Turkey’s 4.8. Thus, Croatia seems more likely to win more corners. For total corners in the match, considering both teams’ statistics, we predict around 11 corners.
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