Matchday 7 of the Euro 2024 qualifying tournament between Croatia and Turkey in Group D will take place on October 12 at the Opus Arena in Osijek. Kick-off is at 21:45 (Moscow time). Croatia vs. Turkey: prediction and betting odds, Euro 2024 qualification match statistics.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)
Matches – 14 (International matches, 2022/23–2023/24);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 67;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.8;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 36%.
Predicted lineups for Croatia vs. Turkey
Croatia (4-5-1): Dominik Livakovic – Borna Sosa, Josko Gvardiol, Josip Sutalo, Josip Juranovic – Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic, Lovro Majer, Nikola Vlasic – Petar Musa.
Turkey (4-3-3): Ugurcan Cakir – Kaan Ayhan, Cenk Ozkacar, Ferdi Kadioglu, Mehmet Zeki Celik – Hakan Calhanoglu, Salih Ozcan, Orkun Kokcu – Cenk Tosun, Irfan Can Kahveci, Bertug Yildirim.
Croatia
After a draw in their opening match of the current qualifiers, Croatia won three consecutive games, propelling them to the top of Group D. The team has the same number of points as their upcoming opponent but leads due to superior tiebreakers and has played one match less. Notably, Croatia has conceded only one goal while scoring nine in their four qualifiers, the best figures in both categories among all teams in the group.
- Croatia's unbeaten streak in Euro qualifiers stands at 10 matches (7 wins, 3 draws).
- In home Euro qualifying campaigns, the team has never lost (28 wins, 9 draws).
- Croatia has scored at least 2 goals in 13 of their last 16 home Euro qualifiers.
Turkey
Turkey missed the previous round, playing a friendly against Japan, which they lost 2-4. In their last Euro 2024 qualifier, they drew 1-1 with Armenia at home. As a result, Turkey lost the group lead to their upcoming opponent, dropping to second place.
After the defeat to Japan, head coach Stefan Kuntz was dismissed, and Italian Vincenzo Montella, formerly of Turkish club Adana Demirspor, was appointed as the new coach. Additionally, key defender Merih Demiral will miss this game due to suspension.
- Turkey has avoided defeat in 21 of their last 23 Euro qualifiers (15 wins, 6 draws).
- The team has scored in 22 of their last 24 Euro qualifiers.
- Turkey's unbeaten away streak in Euro qualifiers stands at 5 matches (4 wins, 1 draw).
Croatia vs. Turkey: Match Prediction
Croatia is confidently moving towards securing a spot at Euro 2024. The team has won their last three qualifiers without conceding, with a combined score of 8-0, including an away victory over Turkey. Croatia is especially strong at home, winning 21 of their last 27 home Euro qualifiers (6 draws).
The upcoming match is crucial for the standings in Group D, and the hosts will approach it with full seriousness. However, Turkey is aware of the pressure from their pursuers and will be motivated by the arrival of a new coach, with players eager to impress. Nevertheless, it's unlikely that even this factor will help the visitors overcome the formidable Croatians at home, as the Balkan team already defeated Turkey on the road in the first round.
I expect a similar pattern in the upcoming match. My prediction: 1X + Total under 3.5 goals
