Remaining unbeaten in the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers will meet the challenge of Latvia on Friday. Croatia are third in Group D, just two points behind the top two, while Latvia are sinking to the bottom of the table after three consecutive losses.
Croatia is the only team in Group D to have played two matches, due to their participation in the European Union Champions League final in June. Despite this, Croatia are still performing strongly with four points to their name. In their opening qualifier, Croatia drew 1-1 with Wales before beating Turkey 2-0 in Bursa, with Manchester City's new signing Kovačić scoring twice in the first half to seal the win.
Remarkably, Croatia have lost just one of their last 17 matches played over 90 minutes, with that loss coming in the World Cup semifinals in December to the eventual champions, 0-3, before claiming the bronze medal in Qatar. Since taking over as coach in 2017, Dalic has guided Croatia to World Cup finals and World Cup third-place finals, establishing Croatia as one of the most successful national teams of the modern era.
In stark contrast, Latvia did not win any of their first eight 90-minute matches, having beaten Estonia on penalties in last November's Baltic Cup semi-final, only to lose on penalties again in the final. Since then, Latvia have lost four consecutive matches, losing 2-3 to Ireland in a friendly in March and then consecutively in Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Latvia has won only 21, drawn 13 and lost 41 of its 75 matches in the European Championship qualifiers, so there is a high probability that the Baltic nation will fail again in this qualifier.
Croatia's 23-man squad has six people with more than 80 international appearances, including Kovačić, Brozović and Kramarić, while, Perišić and Vida have all made more than 100 appearances on behalf of the national team. In contrast, Latvia's squad is far less experienced than Croatia's, with only Dubra, Savalnieks and Ikaunieks making more than 50 international appearances.
Based on the recent performances of both teams and the strength of the squads, Croatia is expected to beat Latvia 3-1. While Latvia have scored three goals in each of their last two qualifiers, and we think they have the potential to break through again in Friday's match, Croatia will undoubtedly outscore the bottom team in Group D in terms of goals scored.
