First meets second as Russia and Croatia square off at the Gradski stadion u Poljudu in 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying-Europe fixture. The group H showdown schedules for 14th November 2021 at 1700 EAT.
Croatia prepares for this amazing clash coming off 6-0 WC qualifiers triumph against Malta. In that match, they had 67% possession, 20 shots with 12 on of them on target and goals scored by Ivan Perišić (6′), Duje Ćaleta-Car (22′), Marcelo Brozović (31′ OG), Mario Pašalić (39′), Luka Modrić (45′), Lovro Majer (47′, 64′) and Andrej Kramarić (53′).
Russia heads into this game in a good form after 1-7 WC qualifiers victory over Malta in their most recent outing. In that game they had 61% possession, 22 shots with 13 on target and goals scored by Aleksandr Yerokhin (4′, 87′), Fyodor Smolov (55′), Andrei Mostovoy (56′), Aleksey Sutormin (62′) and Anton Zabolotny (82′). Cyprus managed only seven shots at goal with only one on target.
Both teams have been impressive and they are on top of their group (H), Russia on the top most spot with 22 points after and they won all the five recent games they played in this campaign. Croatia comes second with 20 points and four wins and a draw in their recent five games in the campaign.
We vote for a draw at the end of these fixture since both teams are in great forms with lists of experienced players. These two sides have history of defensive game play and three out the previous head to head encounters they had ended in goalless draws.
Croatia vs Russia head to head
Since 2005 these two sides have met five times in which Croatia holds two wins while the remaining three matches ended in draws.
- Russia 0-0 Croatia 01/09/21
- Russia 3-4 Croatia 07/07/18
- Russia 1-3 Croatia 17/11/15
- Croatia 0-0 Russia 06/06/07
- Russia 0-0 Croatia 06/09/06
Home
- Malta 1-7 Croatia
- Croatia 2-2 Slovakia
- Cyprus 0-3 Croatia
- Croatia 3-0 Slovenia
- Slovakia 0-1 Croatia
Away
- Russia 6-0 Cyprus
- Slovenia 1-2 Russia
- Russia 1-0 Slovakia
- Russia 2-0 Malta
- Cyprus 0-2 Russia
Croatia team news
Zlatko Dalić will not be able to call upon the services of Mateo Kovacic and Josip Brekalo who are sidelined through injuries.
Russia team news
Valeri Karpin has a fully fit squat at disposal ahead of this fixture.
Prediction and odds
- Draw
- Croatia Win
- Double chance
