Read our prediction for France U21 vs Croatia U21 below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between France U21 vs Croatia U21 and you can increase your winnings!
France U21 vs Croatia U21 Prediction & Betting tips
The European Under-21 Championship in Italy and San Marino has a tight schedule. Within just two weeks, the title holder will be determined. Only the three group winners and the best runner-up reach the semi-finals. At the end of the second day of the match, the group C will face a duel between France and Croatia! In the repetition of the 2018 World Cup finals, the signs on the paper are relatively clear. Between France and Croatia, according to current quotas, a clear success of the French team is expected.
The co-favorite from France celebrated a dramatic opening victory and could open the door to the semi-finals with a win against Croatia. The Croats, however, had a horrible start when they had to give Romania a 1: 4 defeat. After this result, one of the four coveted semi-final places is almost impossible. Only with a win Croatia should still dream a little. However, between France and Croatia high odds are offered for the tip on the Croatian victory. The start of the game in Serravalle is on Friday evening at 20 o’clock.
France:
In a survey of the strongest junior national teams in Europe, France would probably be named alongside teams like Spain or Germany. The reputation is extremely large, but the performances have been consistently disappointing in recent years. The only European championship title for the under-21s is 1988, the last time France played in 2006, and the last six finals were in vain for the French selection. After 13 years of abstinence in 2019, the comeback is back and the team of head coach Sylvain Ripoll is one of the big favorites. Little wonder, because the squad of France has enormous qualities. In all areas of the team players can be found who could already make a name for themselves in professional football. The central defense with the Leipzig duo Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahim Konate impresses as much with their tremendous quality as the midfield with the Lyon duo Houssem Aouar and Lucas Trousart. A player like Matteo Guendouzi, who impressed with strong performances at Arsenal this season, was 90 minutes into the game at the inaugural U21 European Championship. Ripoll is spoiled for choice and with this squad the goal is clear – only the title win counts.
The prelude was hard to beat in drama. France celebrated a 2-1 win in the end, but in the end it was more than happy. Twice the French failed from the penalty spot. In the second penalty, England had a red card and only in the last seconds of the game, the turnaround succeeded. Jonathan Ikone equalized in minute 89, before the Englishman Wan-Bissaka made an own goal after a corner. The only drawback was a horror foul on Jonathan Bamba of Hamza Choudhoury, which resulted in the red card. Bamba will not be available during the rest of the tournament. The Mainz Jean-Claude Mateta could be the beneficiary and slip into the root formation. A bitter failure for Bamba, but France also has the breadth in quality to adequately replace these failures.
After the victory against fellow favorite England the way to the group victory seems to be free. In the second group match between France and Croatia, a forecast for the victory of the French team is obvious. Also at the end of the group stage, France is traded against Romania as a big favorite.
Croatia:
The U21 selection of Croatia does not seem to be able to build on the great success of the senior team from last year. Croatia is represented in this age group only for the third time in a final round and has in the first two attempts (2000 and 2004) in each case after the group stage have to travel home. This fate is likely to be repeated this year. In the opening match, the team of head coach Nenad Gracan was still traded as a clear favorite against Romania. Although there was a class difference in the field, Croatia had no chance against the supposed underdog. Finally, stood on the scoreboard a 1: 4 from the perspective of the Croats. An absolutely disappointing tournament start. The group victory is after this game anyway far in the distance and in the fight for the place as the best runner-up a goal difference of -3 is a huge mortgage.
Above all, the inferior defensive work was a huge surprise given the strong qualifications. On the way to Italy and San Marino Croatia had to accept only ten goals in ten qualifying matches. With 25 points and a goal difference of +26 Croatia reached the group victory wafer-thin in front of Greece (25 points, goal difference +21). Especially German legionnaire Josip Brekalo was able to convince in the qualification. In the match against Romania, the winger of the VFL Wolfsburg could not press the mark of the game, because after only 15 minutes the 20-year-old had to be replaced injured. Brekalo is together with CSKA Moscow actor Nikola Vlasic (only scorer) the big star in the squad of Croatians.
The defensive seems to be Achilles’ heel in calendar year 2019, as Croatia were unusually weak in the play-offs against the ball (including a 1: 4 against Switzerland). Accordingly, there have been many goals in the last few games. Between France and Croatia, a prediction on the over 2.5 is accordingly an interesting option. Quite possible, that goalkeeper Josip Posavec alone has to attack at least three times. But Croatia’s offensive is also a scoring own goal.
France U21 vs Croatia U21 head to head matches
15.11.18 FI France U21 Croatia U21 2 : 2