Croatia will be looking to extend their unbeaten run against Italy when they face them in Split on Friday evening. Croatia are leading Group H but Italy are just two points behind them, so a win for the visitors would change the leadership. Italy have not beaten Croatia in their last seven matches, the last win for them was all the way back in 1942. Croatia have won three of those last seven matches against Italy. The last direct clash was in November 2014, it ended 1-1 with goals from Ivan Perisic and Antonio Candreva.
Croatia recorded four wins out of five matches so far in the qualifying campaign and have lost just one match since the World Cup, a 2-1 friendly defeat against Argentina. However, they don't have a particularly good track record at the Plojud Stadium in Split, they have won just one of their last 11 matches at this arena. Luka Modric will miss out due to a knee injury.
Italy are unbeaten since the World Cup, where they exited the tournament during the group stages. However, they haven't won as many games as they would have wanted. They were held to a 2-2 draw by Bulgaria and only beat Azerbaijan and Malta by one goal. They have scored in every match so far but never more than two goals. Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Simone Zaza and Luca Antonelli are all sidelined for Italy.
Probable line-ups:
Croatia: Subasic - Srna, Corluka, Vida - Pranjic, Olic, Brozovic, Badelj, Perisic, Rakitic - Mandzukic
Italy: Buffon - Ranocchia, Bonucci, Astori, Darmian, De Sciglio - Candreva, Verratti, Bertolacci - Immobile, Pelle
My prediction: 1-1 draw.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Croatia win - 2.25 Draw - 3.10 Italy win - 3.40
galata86 8 years ago
Absolutely expected result for this match. Croatia played without their best player Luka Modric, while in Italy, in my opinion, is still looking for the starting lineup. Croats made a nonsense drawing a swastika on the pitch. This team plays well and does not deserve to be punished because of the behavior of hooligans.
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Alexa Alexa 8 years ago
Croatia was always hard team to beat at their home.Again they stayed unbeaten.If Mandzukic scored the penalty at the begining of the match,everything could be different.There is also one big problem with this match.There was Nazzi sign drawed on the picth,so it can be expected from Fifa to ban Croatia with some matches...
Croatia was always hard team to beat at their home.Again they stayed unbeaten.If Mandzukic scored the penalty at the begining of the match,everything could be different.There is also one big problem with this match.There was Nazzi sign drawed on the picth,so it can be expected from Fifa to ban Croatia with some matches without fans.
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rikimartin4444_115925 8 years ago
This was great game, especially in first half. Croatia started better and earned penalty. Buffon was amazing and saved penalty. After that, Italy scored goal, but flag was up. And while they were protesting Croatia scored from counter-attack. After that, Italy played better and success to level result in fist half. In second,...
This was great game, especially in first half. Croatia started better and earned penalty. Buffon was amazing and saved penalty. After that, Italy scored goal, but flag was up. And while they were protesting Croatia scored from counter-attack. After that, Italy played better and success to level result in fist half. In second, both teams were satisfied with draw.
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seculla 8 years ago
What a great match. Buffon is definitely a penalty master. Also I'm so "angry" that I didn't bet on draw because I had some intuition that it will be a draw. That result is good for both sides and they are still the main favorites to qualify directly to EURO 2016, especially after Norway's 0:0 against Azerbaijan.
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Johnajax 8 years ago
It was big derby of this round in group H and it was finished with draw 1-1 just like in first match in Italy. This is fair result because both teams were equal and I think that both teams can be satisfied with this draw. I think that both country will play on Euro 2016 in France and it is not matter from which place in...
It was big derby of this round in group H and it was finished with draw 1-1 just like in first match in Italy. This is fair result because both teams were equal and I think that both teams can be satisfied with this draw. I think that both country will play on Euro 2016 in France and it is not matter from which place in group they will qualify for that competition.
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sharpe 8 years ago
This game promising to be a great one and I expect the Croatians to be really tough opponent for Italy and why not even defeat them. The Croatian national team is full with a class players and really could win over every opponent especially at home. I think Italy is not so impressive as a squad and as a playing style in...
This game promising to be a great one and I expect the Croatians to be really tough opponent for Italy and why not even defeat them. The Croatian national team is full with a class players and really could win over every opponent especially at home. I think Italy is not so impressive as a squad and as a playing style in the last few years and this game will be a hard one for them.
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Alexa Alexa 8 years ago
This will be very interesting match.Croatia is always hard team to beat at their home.I think biggest battle will be in the midfield.Modric will be missed a lot ,but Croatia has players that can replace him.I expect a tight clash with no more then 2.5 goals.My prediction is draw,1 -1
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rikimartin4444_115925 8 years ago
An interesting match expect us tonight. Croatia will host Italy in very important match for both sides. This match will be played without crowd due UEFA penalty. Croatia will be without Modric, that is big loss for them. But, I think they are strong enough to stay undefeated tonight. Italy will try to win, but they will...
An interesting match expect us tonight. Croatia will host Italy in very important match for both sides. This match will be played without crowd due UEFA penalty. Croatia will be without Modric, that is big loss for them. But, I think they are strong enough to stay undefeated tonight. Italy will try to win, but they will be satisfied with one point. My prediction is 2-2 draw.
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seculla 8 years ago
This match will be very interesting and very difficult to win for both international teams. After 1:1 in Italy everything can happen tomorrow. Croatia is first in the group with 13 points and Italy are just behind them with 11 points. But Norway are very close on third place with 9 points and will wait for a mistake from...
This match will be very interesting and very difficult to win for both international teams. After 1:1 in Italy everything can happen tomorrow. Croatia is first in the group with 13 points and Italy are just behind them with 11 points. But Norway are very close on third place with 9 points and will wait for a mistake from them. I expect great football, and I think that it will be draw again.
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advoghado 8 years ago
It will be a great game for sure are two teams that have not lost a match at this stage, but I have a hunch with a certain favoritism for the team of Croatia, because of playing at home and because of the very good attack with 15 goals so far, I strongly believe that Croatia is a selection that will not stand out in this...
It will be a great game for sure are two teams that have not lost a match at this stage, but I have a hunch with a certain favoritism for the team of Croatia, because of playing at home and because of the very good attack with 15 goals so far, I strongly believe that Croatia is a selection that will not stand out in this group, and will get your place in Eurocopa
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h34dhunt3r 8 years ago
Probably one of the biggest matches in this Euro qualifies. Italians surely can be happy if they draw this, because Croatia is always hard to deal with, expectially when they play in front of their own crowd. Biggest factor will be either Modric is playing or not. I think that hes key factor on whatever Croatia plays creative...
Probably one of the biggest matches in this Euro qualifies. Italians surely can be happy if they draw this, because Croatia is always hard to deal with, expectially when they play in front of their own crowd. Biggest factor will be either Modric is playing or not. I think that hes key factor on whatever Croatia plays creative football or not. You guys predicted 1-1 but I think there will be more goals, at least 3. My predictions: - Result: 2-2 with both teams leading once; - Man of the match: Antonio Candreva
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Shumar4life 8 years ago
This is surely one of derby's in this qualifications, and it's very hard to predict winner especially because this match is playing in Zagreb. I believe that Italians have enough quality to take a draw here, but Croatians are really good team with Modric and Rakitic, and it will be interesting to see what outcome will be
This is surely one of derby's in this qualifications, and it's very hard to predict winner especially because this match is playing in Zagreb. I believe that Italians have enough quality to take a draw here, but Croatians are really good team with Modric and Rakitic, and it will be interesting to see what outcome will be
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