Slovakia and Croatia are locked on six points apiece in Euro 2020 qualifying Group E. A win on Friday night in Trnava could send one of the two teams to the top of the group.
Croatia are still recovering from their World Cup 2018 runners-up performance. They crashed in the UEFA Nations League as they were relegated from League A.
Manager Zlatko Dalic has Croatia on the rebound and can continue their excellent Euro 2020 qualifying against Slovakia. Croatia have collected six points from nine possible and sit third in the group due to goal difference.
Slovakia are level with Dalic’s team but have a better goal difference of +5. Their only blemish was a 1-0 loss to Wales.
Euro 2020 Group E is one of the few (perhaps only) groups in which all five teams can beat up on each other. Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Wales, and Azerbaijan are all in Group E and so far, have all taken points off of each other.
Dalic has a few injury issues to contend with. Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic and Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic are both ruled out through injury. Dalic has a “midfield crisis” without Rakitic and Kovacic. However, Croatia still have captain Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, and Ante Rebic in the side.
Slovakia do not have the big names that Croatia do in the team, but they are a solid squad of professionals. Captain Marek Hamisk moved to Chinese Dalian Yifang but is still a top contributor to the Slovakian team.
Manager Pavel Hapal lacks the attacking firepower that Croatia possess. Striker Michal Duris is their most experienced senior striker with five goals in 42 matches. What Hapal lacks in forwards, he makes up for with midfielders.
Hamsik, Juraj Kucka, Ondrej Duda, and Stanislav Lobotka are all high-quality midfield players with creative juices that can open up defences.
Slovakia and Croatia have played 13 times previously. Croatia have won eight and drawn three times in their 13 matches. They haven’t play since 2010 and the players from nine years ago have left the national team squads.
Croatia are undefeated in their last four matches against Slovakia claiming two wins and two draws. On Friday night, they should continue their good form against the Slovakians away.
🎯 Hit 'em with your best shot ⚽️#BeProud #Croatia #Vatreni🔥 pic.twitter.com/MrvCaQTB5J— HNS (@HNS_CFF) September 5, 2019
🎯 Hit 'em with your best shot ⚽️#BeProud #Croatia #Vatreni🔥 pic.twitter.com/MrvCaQTB5J
Dalic has plenty of top-class players plying their trades across European leagues. The Croatians’ quality will show against Slovakia as they pick up an important victory in Group E. A win could propel Croatia to the top of the group depending on goal difference with Hungary.
Expect under 2.5 goals as Slovakia and Croatia play a cagey fixture on Friday with the latter picking up all three points.