Croatia vs Spain Predictions

• Croatia have lost only two of their last 26 matches
• All three of Spain’s Nations League finals games have finished 2-1
• Andrej Kramaric has scored five goals in his last 11 international appearances

Croatia offer value to claim first international honour

There will be a new name on the Nations League trophy on Sunday as Croatia and Spain prepare to battle it out in Rotterdam for the final piece of silverware of the European season.

Spain are the short-priced favourites to become only the third winner of Uefa’s new tournament and kickstart a new era under Luis de la Fuente with a trophy.

But this game is arguably bigger for Croatia, who are chasing a first-ever international title in what could be the final game in the famous red and white cheques for all-time great Luka Modric.

Despite their recent efforts in the past two World Cups and eliminating host nation Netherlands in the semi-finals, once more, Croatia appear to have been overlooked and are the value option to take home the trophy.

Vatreni can grind it out

Croatia beat the odds against the Dutch, weathering a difficult first half and conceding a late equaliser right at the death to win 4-2 after extra-time.

It was the seventh time in the Vatreni’s last nine knockout ties that the game has gone to extra-time, a run which includes a 5-3 loss to Spain at Euro 2020 after an extra half an hour, and it’s worth keeping the draw on side as an insurance policy by going Croatia draw no bet.

Zlatko Dalic’s men are extremely tough to beat, losing just one of their last 17 matches played on foreign soil and if Modric can replicate his excellent performance from the win over the Netherlands, Spain could be in trouble.

La Roja a work in progress

La Roja are a team in transition with de la Fuente having done away with a large number of players who featured under Luis Enrique’s previous regime.

That’s led to some erratic performances with Spain a little fortunate to come out on the right side of a 2-1 scoreline in a chaotic Nations League semi-final against Italy, who had a goal chalked off after a VAR check.

That was only the third time in Spain’s last eight knockout games that a match has been decided in 90 minutes, another reason to explore the draw-no-bet market.

Before the win over Italy, Spain had lost to Scotland and beaten Norway in their first two games under de la Fuente, while results during the Nations League group stages were patchy.

Kramaric to make the difference

Spain will try and take the game to Croatia and their more aggressive approach, coupled with the lack of Josko Gvardiol in the Croatia defence means both teams can get on the score sheet in a fixture that’s produced 19 goals in the last three meetings.

As has often been the case in knockout matches, Croatia can find a way to win and a correct score prediction for a 2-1 Croatia win appeals.

It’s not always easy to work out who will get the goals for Croatia but number nine Andrej Kramaric has found his scoring touch of late and offers a bit of value in a goalscorer market dominated by Spain.

He netted 12 goals for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga this season, while on the international stage scored for the fifth time in his last 11 internationals in the win over the Netherlands.

Kramaric has been firing off more shots than before for Croatia and can make his mark against a Spain team that’s adopted a more open style.