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Croatia v Scotland Bet Builder Tips
Our expert has put together two bet builders for this Saturday evening Nations League fixture, level 1 is just over 3/1 and level 2 is just under 7/1. We also have further in-depth coverage of this game in our Croatia v Scotland betting preview.
3/1 Croatia v Scotland Bet Builder Level 1
7/1 Croatia v Scotland Bet Builder Level 2
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Level 1 Bet Builder Tip
🏆 Croatia to Win
📈 Odds: 1.55
Croatia look an excellent price to beat Scotland, despite having won only one of their last five matches. In those games, they were inefficient in attack, generating a total of 5.7 xG at Euro 2024 while only scoring three goals. Already in their two Nations League matches, they have averaged 18 shots per game.
The Croats have won four of their last five home games, with the only exception being a 1-0 loss against Turkey a year ago. That is also the only goal they have conceded across those fixtures.
Scotland travel to this game having lost four of their last five competitive matches, including both fixtures they have played away from home.
Steve Clarke’s side are also depleted, with more than 10 players missing due to injuries, including certain starters Angus Gunn, John McGinn, Kieran Tierney, Aaron Hickey and Jack Hendry. Callum McGregor has also recently retired from internationals. With little depth in their ranks, the Scots will struggle to cover for these absences against a strong opponent.
🚀 Andrej Kramaric to have 3+ Shots
📈 Odds: 1.36
Kramaric is liable to start as a centre forward for Croatia in this encounter, putting him in position to get plenty of shots away. It is a more advanced role than he plays at club level for Hoffenheim, yet even for the Bundesliga side, where he plays as an attacking midfielder, he still has a shot count of 1.91 per 90.
Against Portugal and Poland, he had seven shots across the two matches in 112 minutes: an average of 5.83 per 90. Scotland are much weaker defensively than either of those teams.
On his sole start for Croatia, during which he was deployed as a centre forward, he had four shots, while he mustered three from a similar role after coming off the bench for the last 22 minutes against Poland.
Scotland have given up 36 shots across their two Nations League matches so far, so the chances are likely to be there for the forward to shoot frequently.
🛑 Ryan Porteous to Commit 1+ Fouls
📈 Odds: 1.40
Watford centre back Ryan Porteous is set for his first international appearance since being sent off against Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024. That red card was typical of a player prone to discipline issues, which is highlighted by the fact he has been booked three times in his last four Championship appearances.
He has committed at least one foul in each of his last four appearances in the Championship for Watford, giving away two or more in each of his last three outings in that competition, albeit one was in an unfamiliar wing back role.
He has given up one foul or more in six of his last eight starts for Scotland, committing multiple fouls on two of those occasions.
Croatia’s forward players will try to engage in a physical battle, which is likely to mean that Scotland’s centre backs give away fouls. Seven of the 14 fouls Croatia have won so far in the Nations League have been earned by their forward players.
🧤 Scotland GK to Make 3+ Saves
📈 Odds: 1.40
Scotland are a weak defensive side, which means in a game in which they are likely to see little of the ball and cede a good deal of territory, they will concede a high shot count.
In their previous Nations League away match, against Portugal, Steve Clarke’s men conceded 26 shots and only a lack of accuracy from their hosts prevented them getting more than seven on target.
Scotland will likely try to pack the middle of the defence, which could mean Croatia are tempted into shooting from range, giving goalkeeper Craig Gordon shots which have a lower chance of going in and are, therefore, easier to save should they be on target.
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Level 2 Bet Builder Tip
🎯 Scott McTominay to have 1+ Shots on Target
📈 Odds: 2.10
McTominay has been in excellent form for Napoli, playing in the type of attacking midfield position that he will take up for Scotland in Croatia. Has scored in four of his last seven appearances for club and country.
He very regularly gets shots on target for Scotland and will once again be a focal point for their attack, making late runs into the box to providing support to whoever plays in the no. 9 role. He has worked the opposing goalkeeper in seven of his last 11 competitive appearances at international level.
McTominay will have even more of an attacking responsibility in this match due to the absence of John McGinn, who typically plays in a similar role.
He has notched a shot on target in four of his last five starts, not to mention two on target against both Poland and Portugal in last month’s international games. So far in the Nations League he has been getting a high volume of shots away for Scotland, with nine across those fixtures.
🛑 Grant Hanley to Commit 1+ Fouls
📈 Odds: 1.62
Hanley is likely to play 90 minutes due to a shortage of defensive options for Scotland, despite warming the bench for Championship side Norwich this season. That means he will be coming into a game against a high-level opponent short of match sharpness, which promises to make his life difficult. He played in both September internationals and gave away at least one foul against both Poland and Portugal.
Croatia have been playing in a direct and physical style that invites opposing defenders to make combative challenges that will give the referee decisions to make over fouls.
Hanley has made at least one foul in each of his last six international starts.
🩹 Ryan Christie to be Fouled 2+ Times
📈 Odds: 1.62
Christie is likely to be given a major role to play for Scotland in the heart of the midfield, where he will be asked to be brave in possession. With the Bournemouth midfielder likely to see a great deal of the ball, he will attract challenges.
He will probably receive a good deal of possession deep inside his own half in areas where Croatia are likely to take chances with their press, knowing that winning possession will give a high reward while the risk of being cautioned for giving away a free kick is low. As such, Christie will be in position to be on the end of minor fouls.
He tends to be a foul magnet when playing for Scotland, having picked up three fouls or more in five of his last seven competitive starts for the national team.
🟨 Over 3.5 Cards
📈 Odds: 1.33
Scotland’s competitive fixtures over the course of the last 18 months have invariably seen a high number of cards delivered to both teams due to the high number of fouls that are typically involved in these games.
Steve Clarke’s style is for his team to be competitive by being physical, and as a result, only two of Scotland’s last 13 matches have seen under four cards, and those two matches saw three in each.
Croatia’s last Nations League match against Poland saw a total of six cards, and while there was only one against Portugal, the Portuguese are a team that are more technical and less willing to get into an arm wrestle. Three of the Croats’ last four international matches have produced at least four cards.
Referee Istvan Kovacs may only average 3.27 cards per match this season, but on the big stage – Champions League, Europa League and competitive international matches – he has given out at least four cards in 12 consecutive games.
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Here on Andy’s Bet Club, we provide all the expert football betting tips you could need throughout the season.
We haven’t slowed down during the international break either, with a range of Nations League betting predictions & bet builder tips including our Nations League acca tips. If you’re looking for a punt on the EFL we’ve got our EFL acca predictions and Mega 100/1 acca tips too, covering many leagues.
We advise you to visit our shots on target predictions and fouls betting predictions ahead of the Nations League slate for bet builder inspiration.
It’s always worth browsing our collection of free bet offers too, which you can use when backing our expert tips on any of the best bet builder bookmakers and best UK betting sites. Our list of the best Nations League Free Bets and Weekly Free Bet Clubs are also worth a browse.
* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
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