Croatia vs North Macedonia Prediction, Tips & Odds

Croatia vs North Macedonia Prediction, Tips & Odds – 03.06.2024

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Croatia vs North Macedonia Prediction 03.06.2024. Croatia starts preparations for Euro 2024 with a home match against North Macedonia in Rijeka on Monday evening.

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Table of Contents

Croatia vs North Macedonia Odds

Croatia Team News

The national team hopes to clinch the European title next month as the generation that has defined Croatian football approaches its conclusion. Having secured second and third places in the last two World Cups and reaching the final of the latest UEFA Nations League, the team aims to add to its accolades. Despite the penalty shootout defeat to Spain at De Kuip, Croatia remains determined for silverware, with the current squad aiming to improve their European Championship record.

The “Vatreni” have yet to progress past the quarterfinal stage, having been knocked out in the round of 16 eight years ago and at Euro 2020. Their qualification for this summer’s tournament was uncertain after consecutive losses at home to Turkey and away to Wales, jeopardizing their chances before victories against Latvia and Armenia secured progression by finishing in the top two spots.

Facing defending champions Italy, Spain, and an improved Albania in Group B will pose a significant challenge for the Croatian players, making Monday’s friendly in Rijeka and the away match against Portugal on Saturday crucial preparations for the main event.

Zlatko Dalić may utilize Monday as an opportunity for experimentation, as the encounter with Portugal is likely to offer Croatia a tougher test, although nearly all of his highly experienced players are ready. Torino forward Nikola Vlašić has been sidelined with adductor issues in recent weeks, but top scorer Ivan Perišić (33 goals) is nearing full fitness after recovering from a serious knee injury. Perišić’s strike partner, Andrej Kramarić, is the team’s second-highest scorer with 29 goals, with other experienced players like Mateo Kovačić and captain Luka Modrić complemented by emerging talents like Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga-winning defender Josip Stanišić and Ajax’s center-back Josip Šutalo.

North Macedonia Team News

As Croatia launches their European Championship campaign with a crucial match against Spain in Berlin, North Macedonia will be forced to watch from the sidelines as they failed to qualify from a challenging group. England and Italy, renowned for their strong squads, secured the top two spots, while Ukraine made it to the playoffs. Despite managing draws against these two powerhouses, unfortunately, North Macedonia’s adventure came to an end.

Three years after their debut in a major tournament at the delayed Euro 2020, the Macedonians are now gearing up for their next campaign in the Nations League, where they will face Armenia, the Faroe Islands, and Latvia. Coach Blagoja Milevski, who led the team through the bitterness of defeat against Portugal in the 2022 World Cup playoffs, is now laying the groundwork for the future, with the next World Cup just two years away.

In their latest encounter, Milevski watched his team fall to Montenegro in Antalya, leaving them winless in four consecutive matches and without clean sheets in six.

Additionally, North Macedonia will be without their inspirational captain, Enis Bardhi, who scored goals in the draws against England and Italy, due to a shoulder injury he recently suffered. Milevski has opted not to call up a replacement for the trip to Croatia and the subsequent match against the Czech Republic, meaning RB Leipzig’s Eljif Elmas and Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski will shoulder more responsibility in attack. Of the 27 players initially selected, only one plays his trade in the Macedonian domestic league, reserve goalkeeper Igor Aleksovski.

Croatia vs North Macedonia H2H

07.09.2012. Croatia vs North Makedonia 1:0

12.10.2012. North Makedonia vs Croatia 1:2

Injuries and suspensions

Croatia: Nikola Vlašić

North Makedonia: Enis Bardhi

Expected Lineups

Croatia (4-3-3): Livaković; Stanišić, Šutalo, Pongračić, Gvardiol; Brozović, Sučić, Kovačić; Majer, Kramarić, Pjaca

North Makedonia (3-4-1-2): Dimitrievski; Manev, Musliu, Serafimov; Dimoski, Atanasov, Alimi, Alioski; Elmas; Ristovski, Miovski