Croatia – England Prediction & Picks (11.07.2018)

The other semifinal of the World Cup comes and in this opportunity we will speak in detail about the Croatia vs England forecast. A priori, there is no clear favorite on this occasion, as the two teams are even and you can alternate the control of the ball throughout the 90 minutes of play. However, if we consider that the English are showing more solid and balanced lines, we believe that their classification is interesting to consider. With this bet we armor ourselves since we have the regular time, the extension and the dramatic penalties to be able to win it. Also do not forget that the Croatia are advancing rounds from the 12 steps, missing hierarchy to solve the games in 90 ‘and 120’ minutes of play.

Croatia:

Those led by Dalic won 4-3 to Russia on penalties, making it to the semifinals of the World Cup. The team is competitive and to a certain degree balanced, but lacks the necessary quality to overwhelm the rivals it faces. Its main problem is that it lateralizes too much, looking to associate only with walls and exaggerates many times with possession. Moreover, sometimes it moves a lot and makes the pace slow. Apparently, what the team is trying to do is open the field and move forward with short passes, trying to take advantage of the Rakitic and Modric class to be able to cause damage to the opposing defense. Unfortunately for their aspirations, there are many moves in which there are no players in the area, leaving two or three per band without being able to do anything (passes without meaning that in the end they are cut by the defense or by own mistakes when executing them).

If we try to visualize what Croatia will do in this match, we believe that it will try to handle the ball trying to take advantage of the hierarchy of its central goals. In theory this sounds nice, but in practice it will be somewhat complicated to make, since England has a line of 5 flyers that bothers much the elaboration of their opponents. And not only that, since then that line of 5 moves to the defense when Trippier and Ashley Young go down to fulfill defensive tasks. Therefore, if the Croatia want to score and win a game without extending too much, they should be practical with the ball. If they want to play in the middle they should do it fast and without so many passes in between. The game by bands that try is positive, but they must center or penetrate and not back the ball if they do not find the space to do it. Football is risky and just remember the goal of Kramaric against the Russians to corroborate this statement (great overflow of Mandzukic, good back center and great header to score the partial 1-1 in the first half). Finally, do not forget that the defenders Vida and Lovren are playing well, like the Subasic goalkeeper, who is stopping well in regular time and is becoming the sensation of the World Cup as a great penalty shoot-out.

England:

The Southgate boys are practical in their proposal. They do not shine but they are effective for the goal. Therefore, it should not surprise us that they have managed to eliminate Colombia and Sweden in 8th and 4th respectively. At the moment, the 3-5-2 system imposed by the coach is working, since it allows the team to be balanced between lines and cash against the opposing goal. Although the British do not overwhelm their rivals, if they generate between 3 to 4 chances per game, their main strength being the aerial game. It is enough to remember the goals of head before Sweden to corroborate this affirmation (Maguire and Alli). Now the goal of the team is to beat a serious and quality rival, but that has not dazzled much in this World Cup. In the end it will be like a game of chess, in which English and Croats will think a lot about their movements before risking. There is too much at stake to get away with everything from the initial stage.

For this match the British are expected to be cold and calculating as they have been in the first two rounds of direct elimination. The ideal is that Pickford continues to show security in the goal, having to improve a little in his serves with his hands and feet. The defense is working well thanks to how well they complement Maguire, Stones and Walker. Both have the support of lateral-flyers that go up and down making the route very well. In the midfield, Alli, Lingard and Henderson provide balance, trademark and football, with the fast and intermittent Sterling on the offensive with striker Harry Kane. The English banking has also contributed in this World Cup, highlighting the contribution of Dier, Rashford, Rose and Vardy.

The last two matches played by both teams came almost 10 years ago. In September 2008, the English won 1-4. In September 2009 they also won 5-1.