On Saturday, Croatia will host Scotland at the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb for a crucial UEFA Nations League matchup. Croatia aims to secure a place in the knockout phase, while Scotland seeks to end their long winless streak.
Match Preview
Croatia: The Vatreni kicked off their Nations League campaign with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Portugal but bounced back with a vital win over Poland. Captain Luka Modric’s stunning free-kick secured the victory, moving Croatia to second place in Group 1. With a solid home record, including three consecutive wins without conceding a goal, Croatia is keen to maintain momentum as they aim for silverware in the Nations League, especially after their runners-up finish last season.
Scotland: The Scots are struggling, having lost both of their opening League A matches. Their current winless streak extends to eight competitive matches, the longest in Scottish football history. After a promising draw against Poland that ended in a last-minute defeat and another narrow loss to Portugal, Scotland finds themselves at the bottom of the group. With relegation fears looming, they desperately need points to avoid the drop into League B.
Team News
Croatia: Head coach Zlatko Dalic has already lost key players such as Domagoj Vida and Marcelo Brozovic to retirement, and injuries have sidelined Josip Stanisic, Marin Pongracic, and Lovro Majer. However, Martin Erlic is back and could feature in the lineup. The experienced trio of Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, and Mateo Kovacic will provide leadership as Croatia seeks to assert their dominance at home.
Scotland: Coach Steve Clarke faces a challenging situation with several key players unavailable, including Angus Gunn (injured), John McGinn, Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson, and Kieran Tierney. Craig Gordon, at 41, is set to start in goal, while Che Adams returns after his transfer to Torino. Scott McTominay is expected to be a crucial player, having scored 11 goals for Scotland in competitive matches.
Predicted Lineups
Croatia (4-3-3):
- Livakovic; Erlic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Pjaca, Kovacic, Modric, Baturina, Sosa; Matanovic, Kramaric
Scotland (4-2-3-1):
- Gordon; Ralston, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson; McClean, Gilmour; Doak, McTominay, Christie; Adams
Prediction
Given Scotland’s ongoing struggles and injury issues, Croatia is favored to win this encounter. With a solid home record and key players performing well, the hosts are expected to continue their fine form.
Predicted Score: Croatia 2-0 Scotland.
