Croatia vs. Spain Odds, Predictions & Betting Tips

Croatia and Spain will contest the 2022/23 Nations League Final which takes place at De Kuip in Rotterdam on Sunday 18th June (7.45pm).

Tipster Wizard has analysed the markets to bring you his two best bets.

Croatia clinched their place in the final after two extra-time goals helped them overcome Netherlands in the semi-final.

After going winless in their first two games in the group stage, Croatia went on a run of four wins in a row including a 1-0 win over France.

Despite not having a star-studded lineup, Croatia have been an effective team in recent years - always punching above their weight - and they will be going into the final full of confidence.

As for Spain, they booked their place in the final with a 2-1 win over Italy courtesy of a late goal by Joselu.

They topped their group with 11 points having won three, drawn two, and lost one of their six games in the group stages.

Spain are still searching for their first silverware since their Euros win in 2012 but will feel confident going into the final as they have beaten Croatia in two of their last three head-to-head meetings, including a 6-0 hammering in the 2018 Nations League group stages.

This is an extremely tough game to call which is why I will be staying clear of result-based betting in my preview.

A mouth-watering Nations League Final awaits us, and as usual I have you covered with two of my best betting angles included in the preview below:

Team News:

Josko Gvardiol is out for Croatia, but they have no other missing players.

Spain have no missing players for this game.

Croatia possible starting lineup:

Livakovic; Juranovic, Vida, Sutalo, Perisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Ivanusec

Spainpossible starting lineup:

Simon; Navas, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba; Merino, Rodri; Asensio, Gavi, Pino; Morata

Croatia vs Spain Tips

Rodri Over 0.5 shots and Over 1 cards in the 2nd half

Bet Builder Selections

• Rodri Over 0.5 shots
• Over 1 cards in the 2nd half

Rodri has been in sensational form for club and country in recent weeks. He has improved his long-range shooting and scored the winning goal for Manchester City in the Champions League Final from outside the box.

He attempted four shots in the semi-final against Italy and one of those shots led to Spain getting the winner via a Joselu touch.

With Spain expected to dominate possession, he will likely have multiple chances to shoot at goal so I am adding a Rodri shot as the first selection of the Bet Builder.

For the second pick, I am getting involved in the cards market. We have Felix Zwayer in charge of this final who is averaging 4.31 cards per game this season and I expect a tense second half full of cynical fouls as we approach full-time with silverware on the line.

There were at least two cards in both semi-finals and I expect there to be at least two more in the final 45 minutes of the final.

Combining these two selections gives us a solid Bet Builder @ 4/5 and I am happy to stake 1pt on that as our main pick for this game.

Game decided in Extra-Time

The last time these two sides came up against each other was in the round-of-16 stage of Euro 2020 and the game was decided in extra-time.

The meeting before that was decided by an injury-time goal for Croatia in a 3-2 win and another close encounter could be on the cards.

Croatia’s semi-final against Netherlands also ended all square inside 90 minutes and was decided in extra-time while Spain scored a late winner against Italy.

With the draw priced as low as 2/1 here, the 6/1 on offer for the game to be decided in extra-time looks value so I am happy to stake a small 0.25pt on that as the second pick for this game.

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