Croatia vs France Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Croatia takes on France in what should be a closely-fought match in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League.

France have a far superior head-to-head record in this fixture, as they have won six, drawn three and lost just once to Croatia.

On top of this, Croatia enter this game without a win in their last three matches, while conceding five goals across these games. France have won four and drawn one of their last five outings. In the Nations League, Les Bleus have managed 12 goals in six games, a two goals per game average that we expect them to maintain here.

Prediction: Croatia 0-2 France

Croatia hosts France in the first leg of the Nations League’s quarter-finals, in a game that the visitors will enter as overwhelming favourites.

Date: 20/03/2025

Location: Poljud Stadium

Time: 7:45pm

When these two sides last met, it was actually in the Nations League back in June 2022, where Croatia earned a shock 1-0 win in France thanks to a fifth-minute penalty from Luka Modrić

The most notable head-to-head clash between Croatia and France came in the 2018 World Cup final in Russia, where France ran out as 4-2 victors thanks to a Mario Mandžukić own goal, Antoine Griezmann penalty and strikes by Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé.

Both sides will be determined to compete well for the Nations League,having failed to achieve their goals at Euro 2024, as Croatia were knocked out of Group B behind Spain and Italy. On the other hand, France were beaten semi-finalists by Spain after progressing past Portugal and Belgium in the knockout stages.

In the Nations League, Croatia scraped a second-place finish in League A Group 1, with eight points from six matches, finishing behind Portugal, but, ahead of Scotland and Poland. Meanwhile, France topped League A Group 2 ahead of Italy on goal difference, while also finishing nine points clear of Belgium and Israel.

Croatia versus France will not be shown live on UK TV.

Croatia

Predicted line-up: Livakovic; Jakic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Kovacic, Perisic, Baturina, Sucic; Kramaric.

France

Predicted line-up: Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Saliba, Digne; Camavinga, Guendouzi, Barcola, Olise, Dembélé Mbappé

Croatia

Croatia enter this game without a win in their last three matches, as they held Portugal to a 1-1 draw last time out as Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol equalised in the 65th-minute after João Félix had given Portugal the lead in the 33rd-minute of the game. That draw came after a shock 1-0 loss at Scotland and a 3-3 away draw with Poland where they actually blew a 3-1 lead.

In the run-up to those matches, Croatia had beaten Scotland (2-1) and Poland (1-0) with Luka Modrić scoring the only goal of the game against the latter mentioned opponent.

France

France have won four and drawn one of their last five matches, with their draw being via a shock 0-0 scoreline at home to Israel on 14th November.

Didier Deschamps’ side earned a crucial 3-1 win at Italy last time out to top their Nations League group, as an Adrien Rabiot brace and Guglielmo Vicario own goal gave them all three points. Prior to that match, Les Bleus earned further victories over Belgium via 2-1 and 2-0 scorelines on either side of an emphatic 4-1 win at Israel.

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