Croatia vs Scotland Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips: Back Kovacic From Distance

Scotland, who are yet to pick up a point, face a tough away trip to a Croatia side who are fighting for top place in their Nations League group. 

This match kicks off at 5pm this Saturday at the Stadion Makismir.

Scotland have had a challenging start to their Nations League campaign, suffering losses in both matches, including a recent defeat at home against Poland. Croatia are a tough team to face on the road. They’ve shown promise in their Nations League efforts, securing a win over Poland and narrowly losing to Portugal away.

They have the experience and skill of players like Luka Modric, whose vision and control in midfield remain world-class, and Mateo Kovacic,who has shown to be a valuable asset to Manchester City after the loss of Rodri. Additionally, Croatia’s defense is fortified by rising star Joško Gvardiol, who has quickly established himself as one of Europe’s most promising young defenders. Scotland simply do not have players of this quality and I could see them struggle this weekend. Realistically, Croatia should win this game.

I expect both teams to find the net in this matchup. Scotland has seen both teams score in 5 of their last 6 games, in which they’ve lost 3 of those encounters. Croatia’s recent matches have also featured plenty of action on both ends, with both teams scoring in 3 of their last 4 games. Given these trends, a high-scoring affair seems likely between these two sides.

So for my first tip I am backing Croatia to win and both teams to score at odds of 11/5.

For my second tip I am predicting that Mateo Kovacic will score from outside the box. The Croatian midfielder has become a key part of Manchester City's team this season due to the absence of Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne. In City's recent Premier League game against Fulham, the midfielder was key to their victiry coming up with two goals for the Citizens. Notably, one of these goals came from outside the box, showcasing his accuracy and confidence in taking shots from distance.

Kovacic is a midfielder known for his keen eye for goal and his ability to score from distance, making him a threat well beyond the penalty area. The Croatian has a track record of delivering powerful strikes from outside the box, often catching keepers off guard. In fact, whenever Kovacic finds the back of the net, it’s often through a long-range effort. His knack for scoring from afar adds a valuable dimension to any team's attacking options, and he’s shown time and again that he’s capable of turning a game around with one well-placed strike.

Kovacic to score from outside the box is priced at odds of 9/1.

Croatia vs Scotland Predicted Lineups

Croatia Predicted Lineup:

Livaković, Śutalo, Čaleta-Car, Gvardiol, Pjaca, Sučić, Modrić, Kovaćić, Sosa, Kramarić, Budimir

Scotland Predicted Lineup:

Gunn, Ralston, Hanley, Porteous, Robertson, Gilmour, McLean, McGinn, McTominay, Christie, Dykes

Croatia vs Scotland Head-to-Head Record

Scotland and Croatia have faced each other on 6 occasions and the head-to-head record is very even. Scotland have won two games with Croatia winning once. The sides have drawn three times.

Last 5 Encounters