Our prediction for this Euro 2020 match:
Azerbaijan
Match Time & Date:
09/09/2019
12:00 PM
Prediction: 0-2
Croatia
Croatia will be aiming to build on back-to-back wins over Wales and Slovakia when they take on Azerbaijan at their Bakcell Arena. Zlatko Dalic’s troops impressed in the 4-0 win over Slovakia and they are seen as hot favourites to pick up all three points from Monday’s football match. Croatian tactician Nikola Jurcevic is in charge of the Azerbaijan national team, but despite the fact that he is well aware of the ability of Croatia internationals, we do not believe that the hosts are capable of upsetting the World Cup finalists.
Nikola Jurcevic’s men suffered a loss in each of their five group games in the Euro 2020 qualifiers and we do not believe that there is a big value in betting on the underdogs. When the two teams met at Stadion Maksimir earlier in the process Croatia recorded a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan.
Highlighted Player (Richard):
Richard is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder at Qarabag of Azerbaijan. Richard Almeida de Oliveira was born on March 20, 1989 in Sao Paulo, Brazil and he started his senior career at Santo Andre. After making only four appearances in the league for the Brazilian club, he signed a loan deal with Portuguese side Gil Vicente.
In 2012 he moved to Azerbaijan, signing a contract with Qarabag and he has been playing for the Atilar ever since. Richard impressed in his debut season with the club as he scored 13 goals in 30 appearances in the national championship for Qarabag. The 177-cm tall player made his Azerbaijan debut on June 10, 2017 in a 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland.
His main position is central midfield, but he is capable of playing as both attacking midfielder and a left winger as well. It has to be noted that Richard’s contract with Qarabag should expire on June 30, 2018.
Highlighted Team (Croatia):
While the national football team of Croatia also played international matches between 1940 and 1944, they only resumed their duties in 1990 after the country gained independence from Yugoslavia. Vatreni enjoyed a remarkable start on the international stage, winning the third place on their first ever World Cup appearance in France in 1998, while crashing out in the group stage at the 2002, 2006 and 2014 tournaments.
Croatia also reached the quarter-finals at the 1996 and 2008 European Championships, proving they are rightly considered one of Europe’s top sides at the start of the 21st century. Long-serving captain Darijo Srna is their most capped player with over 130 appearances for the national team, whereas former Real Madrid striker Davor Suker is one of their most famous players and top scorer with 45 goals.
Other notable footballers to have played for Croatia include Luka Modric, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic. Miroslav Blazevic and Slaven Bilic are the coaches that have been behind team’s biggest success stories up to date.
Belgium
Cyprus
Germany
Northern Ireland
Netherlands
Estonia
Poland
Slovenia
Scotland
Kazakhstan
Wales
Hungary
