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October 14, 2020. 9:45 PM. Croatia. Zagreb. “Maksimir”
The League of Nations. League A. Group Round 3.4
Squad of France v Portugal
Where to look: “Soccer 3”
Disqualified: Brozovic (Croatia)
Injured: Rebich, Vrsalko – Upamekano
COVID-19: Dubois
Croatia – France: bookmaker odds
We will undoubtedly know the outcome of the struggle in this group only after the November meetings, but the fourth round will mark the curvature of the finish line. At the very least, France needs to face a major challenge in Zagreb to claim a solid position before traveling to Portugal in a month.
After winning the 2018 world title, the French team is doing well, but without enthusiasm. In the last UEFA Nations League, the Blues finished second in the group, tied with the Netherlands and ahead of Germany. Didier Deschamps’ pupils successfully passed the Euro 2021 rankings (first place), but not without problems: the Gallic roosters never beat Turkey, the most difficult of rivals (defeat on the road and draw at home).
In September last year, the French got off to a great start to the new UEFA Nations League campaign, beating Sweden at home (1: 0) and Croatia at home (4: 2), but last Sunday the charges of Deschamps they did not collect the keys to the goal of the Portuguese team (0: 0). This is not a Ukrainian double push, gentlemen musketeers! After 11 successful matches in a row, France stumbled upon the European champion, and Mbappé, apparently, at the sight of his idol, managed to do it again in the tunnel. Thus, a tie in the spirit of “whatever happens” kept the parity at the head of the quartet, and Croatia, which managed to defeat the Swedes (2: 1), reduced the gap between the leaders to four points.
Read also: France – Portugal. Announcement and prediction of matches
Unlike the French, who have the ambition to reach the final round, the Croats see their main objective as keeping a residence permit in the elite. After losing the final of the World Championship, the ladies entered a period of generational change and the search for new milestones. All of this, of course, is accompanied by falls and falls. In the last League of Nations, Croatia came last, behind England and Spain (the start was epic – 0: 6 in Elche).
Subsequently, Zlatko Dalic’s team issued a ticket to the Euro (5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss), proving that Wales, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan are still weaker than the current generation of Croats. Meanwhile, elite national teams have continued to destroy Croatia since the start of the new Nations League in September. Dalic’s sentinels conceded 4 goals each in Portugal (1: 4) and in France (2: 4), complicating the situation from the first rounds. The victory in a friendly with Switzerland on October 7 (2: 1) and the success in the battle with the Swedes inspired the “ladies”, but the visit of “Le Ble” to “Maksimir” will be a real test for Modric and company. To stay in the elite, you have to be able to beat the big teams, or at least not lose to them from game to game.
Croatia – France: indicative alignments
Croatia will have to do without several important team members, such as goalkeeper Kalinic (Aston Villa), defenders Vrsaljko (Atlético) and Mitrovic (Club Brugge) and striker Rebić (Milan). In addition, Ivan Rakitic ended up playing for the national team, but Modric, who missed the first matches, returns to lead the “ladies” in attack. Lovren, Kovacic, Perisic and Kramaric, who started the season strong at Hoffenheim (6 goals in three games), are ready to face the French with weapons. It was Kramaric’s goal that gave Croatia victory in the last match. The disqualified Brozovic will apparently be replaced by Pashalich, while Modric will sit deeper in this case. The host coach probably would have demanded the same of Luka anyway.
Read also: France v Portugal: forecast for productive football
Luka Modric is a great player. When on the field, Croatia is much stronger because it has a lot of influence. He is technical and without a doubt the leader of the team. It was no accident that he won the Ballon d’Or: Croatia owes a large part of its entry to the World Cup final to this player. I also appreciate him as a person because he is very humble and sincere.
Didier deschamps
As for France, Deschamps against Portugal continued to test the 4-4-2 (“diamond”) system which, according to Didi’s plan, should ideally reveal the best sides of the Griezmann-Mbappé-Giroud triangle. Even the presence of Pogba at the base of the piece did not help the attack of the “tricolor”, but the French mentor rightly points out that autumn is the most convenient time to “get answers to all the questions before Euro 2021”.
Compared to the last game, Luca Dinh, Eduardo Camaving, Moussa Sissoko, Clement Lenglet or Anthony Martial could return to the starting eleven. Given that Giroud has played two games in a row, Martial could have a good chance to prove himself.
Croatia vs France: author’s prediction
Does the projectile fall into the same funnel twice? The “dry” draw in Paris upset but did not deprive the author of the belief that goalless football is no longer football. With whom, with whom and with Croatia, France has no right to “chess”. At least in the last official meetings, these countries have fun from the heart: 4: 2 in the first round of this tournament, 4: 2 in the 2018 World Cup final, 2: 2 in the group at Euro 2004, 2 : 1 in the 1998 World Cup semi-finals … Dalich’s team needs to win, which means they will advance, and the French will definitely have room in the final third. In general, the total ran out and France did not lose.
Read also: Switzerland – Croatia: draw forecast
Frequently asked questions
🥇 What time does the game start?
The match will start at 21:45
🥇 What is the best place to bet?
It is best to place a bet on the Parimatch website with an odd of 2.85
