What are Canada's Chances Against Croatia?
What are Canada's Chances Against Croatia?
Canada likely needs to avoid defeat to have a chance of making the next round of the World Cup when it meets Croatia in the evenly spread Group F.
Belgium is at the top, and this match could decide who finishes second. Following are our betting picks for Canada against Croatia.
All or Nothing for Canada
After a 1-0 loss to Belgium, Canada can take solace in a few things. It didn’t play badly, and it has been helped greatly by the fact that Croatia and Morocco tied. As a result, the winner in this match likely secures second place, as Belgium is expected to take all three points from Morocco.
It’s arguably the biggest game in Canadian soccer history. Canada has neither won a game nor scored a goal at the World Cup, but Croatia looked weak against Morocco.
Canada had plenty of chances against Belgium. Alphonso Davies missed a penalty kick that, if successful, would have given Canada a lead. Belgium goaltender Thibaut Courtois was tested a lot more than expected, as Canada had 22 shots and three on target.
Canada must take chances against Croatia. The team is far from out of this World Cup.
Canada to win 1-0 and Jonathan David to score is +1121 with FanDuel.
Croatia Should Have Enough
The game could go the same way as the Belgium defeat, especially if Canada fails to capitalize on its attacking excellence.
Croatia, despite a tie against Morocco, showed glimpses of quality. Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric controls the tempo, and Marcelo Brozović and Mateo Kovačić are no slouches. Canada likely will lose the midfield battle and see little of the ball.
On the attacking front, talented players like Nikola Vlašić, Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić couldn’t get going against Morocco, but they are more than capable of stunning Canada’s defence.
What’s more, many members of the Croatia team that made it to the World Cup final four years ago remain, and this experience likely is enough to get the team over the line.
Andrej Kramaric to score first is +400 with DraftKings.
Best Bet for the Game
Canada deserves respect. This is the first World Cup for all of the players, and the majority are quite young. Moreover, if it wasn’t for Davies’ penalty kick miss, Canada could have defeated Belgium.
Still, we’re backing a Croatia win, which will mean the end for Canada at the World Cup unless Morocco can stun Belgium.
Croatia to win 2-0 is +900 with FanDuel.
