Croatia-Latvia is a match on the fifth day of Group D of Euro 2024 qualifiers and is played Friday at 8:45 p.m.: predictions.
Croatia is also back on the road after the disappointment it suffered in the Nations League last June, with Modric and his teammates defeated in the final in Rotterdam by Spain on penalties.
Beyond the value of the competition, lifting an official trophy would have represented a sort of “closing of the circle” for the red-and-white checkered selection, which finished second and third, respectively, in the last two World Cups, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. A true miracle, considering that we are talking about a country of about 4 million people. The golden generation is drawing to a close, but Zlatko Dalic’s so-called “senators” (Modric, Perisic, Brozovic) do not seem fulfilled, on the contrary. The goal is to perform well at the next European Championship as well: first, however, it will be necessary to detach the pass for the continental event that Germany will organize in the summer of 2024. And making up ground against Turkey and Armenia, the selections that currently occupy the first two places in the Group D standings, becomes imperative to avoid taking risks. Yes, because Croatia has only 4 points, the result of a draw in the debut match with Wales (1-1) and a victory in Turkey (0-2) scored by Kovacic (the former Inter Milan player’s double was decisive).
But if the others have been able to take the lead it is also because of the Nations League, which last June prevented the Croatians from taking part in the qualifiers.
Latvian players
The Vatreni, in fact, are the only ones in Group D to have played only two games. They will play the third in Rijeka against Latvia, the group’s cinderella and still stuck on zero points. Three defeats out of three so far for the Baltics, who in any case have held their own against Wales, Turkey and Armenia, losing by just one goal (1-0, 2-3 and 2-1).
The prediction
Latvia has lost them all so far but has not looked bad. And we are sure that it will be able to bother Croatia as well, in any case a huge favorite for the three points. The total goals could be at least three.
Croatia-Latvia’s likely lineups
- CROATIA (5-4-1): Livakovic; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Sutalo, Perisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Ivanusec.
- LATONIA (5-3-2): Purins; Savalnieks, Oss, Balodis, Dubra; Jaunzems, Saveljevs, Tobers, Cigankis; Uldrikis, Krollis.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
