Croatia v Czech Republic betting tips: Czechs out to repeat Hampden win
Preview and odds for the Group D match
Croatia were beaten by England in their opening match at Euro 2020 but were widely expected to be the second best team in Group D and have the chance to prove so when they face the Czech Republic.
The Czechs already have three points on the board after beating Scotland at the same venue but will head into their final two group games as underdogs in both.
Friday’s match at Hampden Park is live on BBC One and kicks off at 5pm as we highlight a few potential Croatia v Czech Republic betting tips.
Croatia v Czech Republic match odds
Croatia were unable to repeat their World Cup semi-final win against England as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Wembley on Sunday.
Raheem Sterling’s second-half goal proved to be the winner although Croatia had a lucky escape in the first half when Phil Foden’s shot came back off the inside of the post.
Croatia have drifted to 4/11 to qualify as a result while they are 6/5 to finish runners-up behind England in the Group D odds, with England meeting Scotland later in the day.
They certainly look to have gone backwards since reaching the last four in Russia three years ago and their only wins in the last 10 matches have been at home to Cyprus and Malta.
Croatia are 23/20 to get back to winning ways here but the Czech Republic will be full of confidence after Monday’s 2-0 victory over Scotland.
Striker Patrik Schick was the hero as he headed the Czechs in front three minutes before the interval and then doubled that lead in the 52nd minute with a sensational effort from just over the halfway line.
The Czech Republic are 27/10 for a second win of the tournament while the draw is 11/5 and the Czechs are 8/11 to avoid defeat.
Both teams to score can be backed at 19/20 while over 2.5 goals is odds against at 6/5.
Croatia may need to throw caution to the wind as the match progresses and Draw HT/Croatia FT is available at 18/5.
Croatia v Czech Republic head-to-head
This is only the second competitive meeting between these nations with the previous one also coming in the second round of group games at the Euros five years ago.
Croatia looked to be cruising when goals from Ivan Perisic and Ivan Rakitic put them 2-0 up but the Czech Republic pulled one back through Milan Skoda before Tomas Necid’s late penalty rescued a 2-2 draw in Saint-Etienne.
Previous XI
Croatia: Livakovic, Vrsaljko, Caleta-Car, Vida, Gvardiol, Perisic, Kovacic, Modric, Brozovic, Kramaric, Rebic.
Czech Republic: Vaclik, Celustka, Coufal, Kalas, Boril, Kral, Darida, Masopust, Jankto, Soucek, Schick
Key battles
Schick’s two goals at Hampden mean he is an early contender in the golden boot betting and he looks back to his best form after failing to find the net in the last seven matches of the season for Bayer Leverkusen.
He is 13/5 to add to his tally or 5/1 to open the scoring at Hampden.
England midfielder Declan Rice did a good job of keeping Croatia’s Luka Modric quiet at Wembley and his West Ham team-mate Tomas Soucek will now look to do the same.
View the latest Euro 2020 odds
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
