Norway vs Croatia Betting Tips

Norway, who are currently 3rd are only 2 points behind group leaders Croatia with 2 games to go and will move into the automatic qualification positions with a win here. However in reality the gulf in class is much greater and it’s a little surprising that they are so close in the standings.

Norway’s goal difference of 0 is 13 shy of Croatia’s in this group and was done no favours by the 5-1 drubbing they received in Zagreb. The Croats were also deducted a point due to crowd trouble during their game with Italy and it could prove to be a decisive point if they lose this.

It is 15 years since Norway qualified for a major tournament and they have barely even threatened the play-offs in that time. Their side which is fairly inexperienced is just not used to games of this magnitude and Croatia are the side more likely to handle the pressure well on Sunday and look good value to complete the double over Norway at 21/20.

Norawy’s 1-0 win in Bulgaria was fairly impressive in midweek but their overall form over the past two years has been poor. They won an important qualifier in Azerbaijan just prior to the first clash between these sides and we should read little into their Bulgaria result given this will be a very different type of game.

Norway have managed just 8 goals in 7 matches in this group and will struggle to create much against Croatia who have one of Europe’s tightest defences right now. With so much stake, it is likely to be a tense game but a little bit of quality from one of Croatia’s talented creative players like Luca Modric could settle it and if they create a chance you’d back Mario Mandzukic to find the net more so than Norway’s shot-shy strikeforce.

Therefore Croatia could nick it 1-0 and you can back that to be the case at 9/2.