Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Russia
Match Time & Date:
01/09/2021
02:45 PM
Prediction: 2-1
Croatia
Russia and Croatia take on each other at Luzhniki Arena in what is expected to be a very exciting World Cup qualifiers. Russia aim to overtake Croatia in top position in Group H, and the hosts are likely to adopt an attack-minded approach in Wednesday’s football game. A man to watch in the home team will be Aleksandr Golovin as key attacker Artem Dzyuba has been surprisingly left out of the squad. Valencia winger Denis Cheryshev returns to contention after missing the Slovakia qualifier through injury. The Croats, on the other hand, aim to retain top position in their WC qualifying group.
However, away win should not be considered this time out as key midfielder Luka Modric is sidelined through injury. Both Ante Rebic and Bruno Petkovic have been left out of the squad, while Osasuna attacker Ante Budimir is injured. In-form attacker Antonio-Mirko Colak, who has been scoring goals for Malmo this season, could play some part in Wednesday’s clash. Anyhow, we are tempted to put our money on Russia, who are a real force to be reckoned with at home.
Highlighted Player (Denis Cheryshev):
Probably the most famous Russian footballer never to have played for a domestic club, Denis Cheryshev was born in Nizhny Novgorod, but began his career at Sporting Gijon as his father played for the Spanish side at the time.
The talented winger eventually caught the eye of Real Madrid and went on to spend eight years in the youth academy at Santiago Bernabeu before he was given a chance to impress on senior level. Due to a fierce competition for places in Madrid, Cheryshev was forced to gain much needed first team experience via loan spells at Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia, and he showed a great deal of potential during those stints, proving los Blancos were wrong to let him leave.
Chersyhev has been in and out of the Russia national team since making his debut in 2012, but there is a good chance he will become an important member of Sbornaya Komanda as soon as he secures regular playing time at club level. The Russian footballer is capable of operating on either wing or through the middle, and he has proved to be quite prolific in terms of both goals and assists.
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.
Leicester
Chelsea
Arsenal
Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa
Crystal Palace 
Milan 
Juventus 
Man City
Tottenham
Celta Vigo 
Barcelona 
