World Cup
2025-06-09 - Croatia vs Czechia
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA World Cup Qualifier
Monday 9th June 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Croatia
Recent years have seen a veteran group of Croatian players perhaps overachieve on the big stage, but there is a transition period being overseen by the national team. That does not mean expectations have dipped significantly, but Croatia were beaten in the Group Stage at Euro 2024 having failed to win any of their three fixtures at the Finals and they are already playing catch up in this World Cup Qualifying Group.
No one expected Croatia to do anything other than win their opening Qualifier when visiting Gibraltar and the team responded with a 0-7 away win. However, they are already 6 points behind the leading team in the section, and the Match Day 4 visitor, and that means there is some early pressure on Croatia to try and narrow that gap before the break until September.
Croatia might not have impressed in the Euro 2024 Finals, but they played a decent Nations League campaign having finished behind Portugal. Home form was key to the run to the Quarter Final with 4 home fixtures ending in 3 wins for Croatia, including beating France here in March. Since losing to Turkey at home, Croatia have played 6 games here and won 5 of those.
Czechia
Finishing in the top two of this World Cup Qualifying Group would secure a Play Off chance to reach the Finals next summer and Czechia are on course to do that following a 2-0 win over Montenegro on Friday. It also means the team have done exactly what they would have set out to do when the fixtures in the Group were released and Czechia will know any positive result on Monday could be key to topping the section.
Three Qualifiers have been played and Czechia sit on top of this Group with maximum points on the board, meaning they are 3 points clear of Montenegro and 6 points ahead of Croatia. In reality they have won fixtures they would have expected to win, but the next three Qualifiers will see Czechia visit Montenegro in between two big matches with the top Seed.
Czechia had a disappointing Group Stage exit at the Euro 2024 Finals and begun their Nations League campaign with a heavy 4-1 loss in Georgia, but they are now unbeaten in 8 games in all competitions. Not only that, but Czechia have won 6 of those matches, including the last 4 in a row. However, only 1 of those wins has been away from home and that was at Gibraltar.
Head to Head
Croatia have beaten Czechia in a home friendly in the only meeting between the nations hosted by the former.
Two meetings since then have both been in Euro Championship Finals and both have ended in draws at Euro 2016 and the delayed Euro 2020.
Prediction
There is some pressure on Croatia to win this game if they are going to have a real push to finish top of this Group, but this is a squad of players who are capable of securing the maximum points.
Both Croatia and Czechia had poor Euro 2024 Finals, but responded well enough in the Nations League and they are both going to be playing in League A in the next edition.
However, it is clear that there has been a clear disparity between home and away results for both.
Czechia have lost in Georgia and drawn in Albania and on neutral field when 'visiting' Ukraine, while putting together strong home form.
During the same time, Croatia have looked vulnerable away from home in their own Nations League run. However, they have been much tougher in front of the home fans and Croatia have won 3 of their last 4 fixtures that have been hosted, including beating quality opposition in Poland and France.
Turkey won here in the last set of Qualifiers, but Croatia have been much more productive in fixtures they have hosted since that loss. This should play out in this big World Cup Qualifier and the home team can be backed at a decent looking price.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Croatia 2-0 Czechia
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Croatia to Win at 1.85 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals)
