Croatia vs. Scotland: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips | Footy Accumulators

This Saturday, Croatia and Scotland face off in a key UEFA Nations League encounter as both teams look to re-establish themselves on the international stage after disappointing showings at Euro 2024.

• Date: 12/10/2024
• Kick-off time: 17:00
• Location: Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

Sitting second in Nations League A, Group 1, Croatia have made a decent start to this campaign having accumulated three points from their opening two fixtures. However, the 2018 World Cup finalists know that a second-place brings no tangible success, and after a strong run to the final of the last edition of the Nations League, where they finished as runners-up in 2023, they’ll want another crack at the trophy, a piece of silverware they’ll think they deserve after what has been the most successful period in the nation’s history.

After their successful World Cup campaign in 2022, where they reached the semi-finals before falling to Argentina, Croatia appeared to be in good shape heading into Euro 2024. Yet, the tournament proved to be a sobering experience, with Zlatko Dalić’s side crashing out at the group stage in a fairly meek manner. That poor showing raised questions about the squad’s composition, especially the ageing core that had long been the spine of the team, and the need for rejuvenation, particularly in forward areas, has become an urgent concern.

The post-Euro 2024 period has seen Croatia attempting to address these shortcomings, with Zlatko Dalić, who is nearing his eighth year in charge of the national team, being tasked with overseeing this transition. While Croatia’s midfield remains strong, despite the ageing nature of players such as Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić, the issue lies further up the pitch. In Germany, Croatia’s attack looked one-dimensional and lacking in dynamism and pace, with the forward line still relying on the experience of Andrej Kramarić and Ivan Perišić. There is, then, a clear need for younger, more athletic players who can offer a cutting edge in the final third, but such players don’t simply grow on trees.

Despite these challenges, Croatia have every reason to be confident heading into the Scotland clash. Their experience in major tournaments and recent track record in the Nations League—reaching the final in 2023—positions them as strong contenders to perform well. The team still boasts one of the most balanced and technical midfields in Europe, which allows them to control games even when their attack falters. Against a struggling Scotland side, Croatia will look to capitalise on their opponents’ poor form and position themselves firmly in the race for top spot in the group.

On the other side of the spectrum, Scotland come into this fixture off the back of a torrid few months. Steve Clarke’s men sit at the bottom of Group 1 with no points to their name, and their recent form offers little in the way of encouragement. Since securing qualification for Euro 2024 in the spring of 2023, Scotland’s performances have deteriorated rapidly. After an eye-catching start to their qualification campaign—highlighted by an impressive win over Spain—momentum evaporated as they failed to maintain that standard in subsequent matches.

Scotland’s dismal form carried into Euro 2024, where they failed to win a single match. The Tartan Army entered the tournament with high hopes, but the team looked disjointed and bereft of ideas, exiting at the group stage without making any significant impact. Since then, results have not improved, and Clarke’s side have managed just one win since September 2023. While Clarke is not believed to be under immediate threat of losing his job, the growing discontent among fans is palpable, and the pressure to turn things around is mounting.

A key issue for Scotland is a lack of match-winning quality up top. The team is very reliant on the goals of Scott McTominay, a top player in his own right, but not a man capable of carrying an entire attack to what would class as relative success for Scotland. When the chips are down, there are few players in the squad capable of producing game-winning moments of the highest quality.

However, there are some rays of hope for Scotland, most notably in the form of 18-year-old winger Ben Doak. Currently on loan at Middlesbrough from Liverpool, Doak has been one of the most talked-about young talents in Scottish football. His pace, trickery, and willingness to take on defenders have made him a standout prospect, and there is a growing expectation that he could be the player to help revitalise Scotland’s attack. Though it is too soon to place the burden of national expectation squarely on his shoulders, Doak represents the kind of youthful energy that Scotland sorely need as they look to rebuild after their recent failures.

Clarke’s task now is to find a way to halt the downward spiral his team finds itself in. Croatia away is certainly a tough assignment, but Scotland need a positive result to build some confidence and avoid the prospect of relegation from League A. With morale low and little room for error, Clarke will likely adopt a pragmatic approach, aiming to frustrate Croatia with a disciplined defensive setup while hoping to exploit set-piece opportunities or moments of individual brilliance from the likes of McGinn or Robertson.