Euro 2020 qualifiers: Croatia v Wales match betting preview, tip & TV details

Sky Sports Football/S4C, 2pm Saturday

Wales got off to an excellent start in European Championship qualifying by defeating Slovakia 1-0 in Cardiff and can bolster their position further by avoiding defeat against Croatia in Osijek.

Not even a year has passed since Croatia took part in the World Cup final but the team that takes on Wales will be very different to the 11 who started against France.

Only five of Croatia's starters in Moscow are in contention and the home side are under pressure after a surprise 2-1 defeat away to Hungary in March.

Three days before the loss in Budapest they laboured to a 2-1 home victory over Azerbaijan but nothing about either performance would suggest they deserve to be such strong favourites to defeat Wales.

Croatia's midfield has been their strong suit for several years but the absence of injured Barcelona man Ivan Rakitic leaves a big hole.

Up front they have been experimenting with playing Ante Rebic as a false nine but that option will not be available because the Eintracht Frankfurt winger is sidelined with a calf strain.

There are not many quality attacking options in reserve and a huge responsibility rests on the shoulders of Inter attacker Ivan Perisic, the top scorer in the squad with 22 goals in 77 matches.

It all leaves head coach Zlatko Dalic in a difficult position, going into a match which he probably feels they need to win.

The home side will be under pressure to push forward but could leave themselves wide open against a Wales team possessing numerous threats on the counter-attack.

Wales were not at their fluent best when defeating Slovakia in Cardiff but they played with maturity – defending the fifth-minute lead given to them by Manchester United-bound Dan James.

Ryan Giggs has a dynamic, young, pacy side which has the potential to be even better than the group which upset the odds to reach the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

James, Liverpool's Harry Wilson and Bournemouth's David Brooks are the most exciting of the new crop of talent coming through and their emergence takes some of the pressure off Gareth Bale, who has been a one-man attack in many previous international matches.

That is not to say the threat from Bale should be discounted.

The 29-year-old will have a point to prove to Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane and potential summer suitors, who will be casting a keen eye over his performance.

Wales will not be able to call on Aaron Ramsey, who continues to miss out with a hamstring injury.

Ramsey's excellent technique and clever movement will be missed but Wales are no longer a side which relies hugely on one or two stars and they look overpriced to add further or three to their tally.

Recommendation
Wales or draw double chance
2pts 7-5 Betfair

Team news
Croatia
Ante Rebic and Ivan Rakitic have joined Marko Pjaca, Sime Vrsaljko, Marko Rog, Filip Bradaric and Nikola Vlasic on the sidelines.

Wales
Ben Davies has delayed hernia surgery and should start but James Chester (knee) and Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) are out.

Key stat
Croatia have kept one clean sheet in their last 13 matches.

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