Our prediction for this Euro 2024 match:
Wales
Match Time & Date:
15 October 2023
19:45
Prediction: 1-1
Croatia
Cardiff City Stadium will be the centre of attention when Wales and Croatia square off against each other in the Group D derby. The Dragons desperately needed a win against Latvia and they managed to get one, with the team keeping their Euro 2024 qualification hopes alive, but they need to grab something from Sunday’s clash as well if they are to move closer to top two. Swansea defender Ben Cabango has been ruled out with injury, while Chris Mepham made the cut.
Wes Burns, who limped off with injury in a friendly against Gibraltar (4-0), misses out as well. The Croats, on the other hand, aim to recover from a heart-breaking 1-0 loss to Turkey. As both sides will go for a win in Sunday’s showdown, we are tempted to put our money on both teams to score. As for the away team, all Kramaric, Orsic, Perisic, and Frigan are out of contention with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Luka Modric):
Luka Modric is regarded as one of the best central midfielders in world football. The Croatian ace is a product of Dinamo Zagreb’s youth school and it has to be noted that he played 94 league games for the Modri between 2003 and 2008. In 2008 he signed a six-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £16.5 million.
Luka made his Tottenham debut on 16 August, 2008 in a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium. The Croatian star scored only 13 goals in 127 league appearances for the Spurs, but he is well known for his brilliant passing. In 2012 he signed for Real Madrid for a fee of £30 million and he made his debut against Barcelona in the 2012 Spanish Super Cup, return leg.
Modric quickly established himself as a first-team regular and, no doubt, he helped the capital club win two Champions League trophies (2013/2014, 2015/2016). You should bear in mind that he was named Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2014.
Highlighted Team (Wales):
Despite being part of the United Kingdom, Wales national football team has been competing in FIFA tournaments since 1950, although they have so far only reached two tournament finals. The Dragons surprised everyone by making it to the quarter-finals at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, but little did they know that it would remain their only World Cup appearance up to date.
Wales had plenty of problems in the European Championship qualifiers as well, but they finally managed to end the barren run by securing their place at the Euro 2016 in France. Led by the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Ashley Williams, the Dragons performed admirably throughout the campaign and even reached the 8th position in the FIFA Rankings in October 2015.
Neville Southall remains the team’s most capped player, but the generation that included Ryan Giggs, Gary Speed, Craig Bellamy and John Hartson will also be remembered for some impressive performances against top European national teams.
Sabah Baku
Celje
AEK Larnaca
Partizan
Paks
CFR Cluj
Shakhtar Donetsk
Ilves
Trnava
Hacken
Legia
Aktobe
