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The Euro 2020 Qualifiers continues on September 7, 2019, like Slovakia and Croatia dispute the second place in Group E at the Štadión Antona Malatinského in Slovakia.
Slovakia is currently in second place behind Hungary in the Group E team standings. They are tied with Croatia with six points apiece but have a better goal difference between the two. With only the top two per group qualifying for the final tournament, this match is going to be crucial for both sides.
Slovakia
Slovakia blanked Hungary 2-0 in their opening match last March 21, 2019. Ondrej Duda and Albert Rusnak scored for Slovakia during their opener. In their next match, Slovakia lost Wales 0-1 on a goal by Daniel Owen James. But Slovakia bounced back with a 5-1 shellacking of Azerbaijan to get their second win of the qualifiers and tie Croatia with 6 points in the latest Group E table.
These were the players who represented Slovakia in their last match against Azerbaijan:
- Goalkeepers: Martin Dubravka (Newcastle United), Matus Kozacik (Viktoria Plzen), Marek Rodak (Rotherham United)
- Defenders: David Hancko (ACF Fiorentina), Robert Mazan (Venezia FC), Branislav Ninaj (Fortuna Sittard), Peter Pekarik (Hertha BSC), Lubomir Satka (DAC Dunajska Streda), Michal Siplak (KS Cracovia), Milan Skriniar (Inter), Lukas Stetina (Sparta Praha), Denis Vavro (FC Kobenhavn)
- Midfielders: Matus Bero (Vitesse), Martin Chrien (CD Santa Clara), Ondrej Duda (Hertha BSC), Jan Gregus (Minnesota United FC), Marek Hamsik (Dalian Yifang FC), Patrick Hrosovsky (Viktoria Plzen), Milan Klapsia, Juraj Kucka (Parma Calcio 1913), Stanislav Lobotka (Celta Vigo), Jaroslav Mihalik (MSK Zilina), Albert Rusnak (Real Salt Lake)
- Forward: Robert Bozenik (MSK Zilina), Michal Duris (Anorthosis Famagusta FC), Lukas Haraslin (Lechia Gdansk), Robert Mak (Zenit St. Petersburg), Pavol Safranko (Aalborg BK), Miroslav Stoch(Slavia Praha)
Croatia
Croatia opened the Group E campaign with a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan. Borna Barisic and Andrek Kramarik scored the goals for Croatia. They lost to Hungary 1-2 in their second match of the qualifiers. In their third match, Croatia faced Wales and Ivan Perisic scored for Croatia. However, it was Wales’ James Alexander Lawrence’s own goal in the 17th minute that was the difference in the match and gifted Croatia with their second victory. Croatia enters this match as the soccer betting favorites.
These were the members of the Croatia squad who faced Wales in their previous Euro 2020 Qualifiers match:
- Goalkeepers: Lovre Kalinić (Aston Villa), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo), Simon Sluga (Rijeka)
- Defenders: Domagoj Vida (Bešiktaš), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Antonio Milić (Anderlecht), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Marseille), Marin Leovac (Dinamo Zagreb), Borna Barišić (Rangers)
- Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Milan Badelj (Lazio), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Filip Bradarić (Cagliari), Marko Rog (Sevilla), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta)
- Strikers: Ivan Perišić (Inter), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Fiorentina), Ante Rebić (Eintracht), Nikola Vlašić ( CSKA Moscow), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg)
Who Wins?
Slovakia enters this matchup with three wins in their last five matches including back to back victories over Jordan and Azerbaijan last month. Croatia has lost three out of their last five matches across all competitions. The dropped a 1-2 contest to Tunisia in an international friendly last June 11th. Head to head, Croatia has won 8 out of their last 13 matches against Slovakia. During that period, Slovakia has won just twice with the teams figuring in a draw in the three other meetings.
This match will be played at the Štadión Antona Malatinského in Slovakia and the Slovakians have not lost at home to Croatia since 1943. Croatia has both scored and conceded goals in each of their last seven matches. Meanwhile, Slovakia is coming off back to back games where they scored five goals per game.
The lineups for both squads haven’t been finalized yet but based on what both teams had during their last matches, Croatia does have the more talented squad led by Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic. Croatia may have faltered at the UEFA Nations League but this is a squad that made it to the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Slovakia finished 14th in the last installment of the UEFA Euro tournament and didn’t qualify for the last two FIFA World Cup tournaments. Likewise, they were relegated in the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League B. At seven goals scored in the current 2020 UEFA Qualifiers, Slovakia’s +5 goal difference is the best in Group E.
Croatia has the better squad but when you take a look at current form, Slovakia is playing better. And although Croatia has dominated this match-up, the Slovakians have been tough to beat at their home field. I like Slovakia’s betting value here and think they are capable of pulling off an upset. Prediction: Slovakia
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