We’re back with the final international break of 2023 as we continue down the road to UEFA Euro 2024. It’s safe to say that things are really starting to heat up in pretty much every group as nations qualify and make their push to reach the playoffs. Today, we’ll be taking a look at what should be an intriguing battle between Croatia and Armenia.
Croatia Form GuideThey may have only made it to the round of 16 at Euro 2021, but on the biggest stage of them all, Croatia have proven themselves to be the ultimate dark horse. They have finished in 2nd place and 3rd place at the last two World Cups and although it must be said that they have an ageing squad, we still think they’ve got enough gas left in the tank for one more big run.
Following on from surprising defeats to Turkey and Wales, Croatia were facing the very real possibility of having to qualify through the playoffs. However, a win over Latvia (and Wales’ failure to beat Armenia), swung the door wide open for them once again.
Armenia Form GuideAs an independent nation, Armenia have never qualified for a major international tournament. They’ve come close on a few occasions, especially with regards to the Euros, but haven’t quite been able to get over the finish line. They may not be making their way to Germany next year, but who knows, maybe with a few tweaks they could start to make a bit more noise.
Following on from a three-game losing streak, Armenian fans could be forgiven for feeling pessimistic heading into their clash with Wales. In the end, though, they fought incredibly hard, and they were good value for their 1-1 draw.
Match PredictionArmenia were able to prove against Wales that they are more than capable of springing an upset if they stick to their guns at the back and really frustrate their opposition. With that being said, we don’t think the hosts will let themselves down again, with our prediction being a Croatia win.