Here’s what to expect in the EURO’s first serious showdown

The outcome of the first real showdown of the European Championship is unpredictable, so we looked for value in other options.

On the second day of the tournament, we can look forward to a top-class showdown, as the Spain-Croatia match would be an acceptable match-up for the final stage of the knockout stage. With the defending champions Italy and Albania also in the last four, there will be a battle for the 1-2 places that will ensure qualification. Saturday’s clash will be a key moment in this battle, but let’s see what you need to know about the teams!

Team news Spain vs Croatia

The Spaniards chose two easy opponents during the preparation and won both matches by goals, as they should have done. They seem to have their squad for the Euros together, with Rodri and Pedri (or Olmo) in midfield and Yamal, Williams and Morata forming the attacking trio up front. The Spanish national team’s game has been able to pick up speed in the last year or two, but scoring goals could still be a problem, as they have a ninth man in Morata who is capable of doing some rather unpredictable things.

The Croatian national team beat Northern Macedonia and Portugal (!) during their preparations for the European Championship, so they arrived in Germany in a great mood. The team is full of experienced players who know each other’s every move. The centre-back trio of Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic look a very solid unit, virtually impossible to run through, so it is likely that the key to success in any Croatian game will be the domination and dominance of midfield.Fre

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Free tip for Spain vs Croatia

The bookmakers are favouring Spain in this match, but in my opinion this could be a closer battle than the odds suggest. There is a very, very strong draw in this game in my opinion, so the half time or end X option seems like a playable bet.

The line on corners seems a bit lower, as +/8.5 is not a bad number. The Spaniards are forcing the wing play and kicking a lot more corners than they did in their tiki-taka days, and the Croatians continue to do this as they have always been strong in fixed situations and headers. The two teams could combine for 9 corner kicks in a combative match.

Finally, we have picked out a higher odds, which is none other than a yellow for Brozovic. It could be a tough game for the classy player who has transferred to Saudi Arabia from Inter, and having been used to a much slower pace for the last year, it is possible that he will be forced to go back and forth for tactical reasons. He’s got the cards in his game anyway, and at three times the odds, this tip could be worth a try.