Croatia vs Saudi Arabia Match Analysis & Prediction
16/11/2022 1:00 pm
Saudi Arabia and Croatia will meet in a friendly match on Wednesday evening to prepare for their 2022 World Cup qualification campaigns.
The Green Men most recently drew 1-1 with Panama in an exhibition game last Thursday, while Zlatko Dalic’s men have not been in action since beating Austria 3-1 in the UEFA Nations League back in September.
After stringing together a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, Saudi Arabia is poised to give Argentina, Mexico and Poland a tough time at the World Cup.
After opening their November friendly period with a 1-0 win over Iceland, Saudi Arabia played out a 1-1 draw with Panama last Thursday.
Ismael Diaz scored eight minutes into the match, but Haitham Asiri equalized eight minutes before halftime. Renard’s men are preparing to compete at the World Cup finals for the second time in a row after going out in the group stage in 2018.
Dalic had not even celebrated his first anniversary as Croatia manager when he led the Chequered Ones out for their first-ever World Cup final four years ago, which ended in misery at the hands of France on a rain-soaked evening in Moscow.
Now, with Croatia heading into the Qatar tournament with the wind in their sails after making it through to the Nations League Finals – finishing top of League A Group 1 and gleaning revenge over France in the process—it seems that Dalic’s decision to take over as manager was well worth it.
Croatia vs. Saudi Arabia Head to head
Both sides are yet to play against each other and this marks their first encounter.
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Croatia Team News
Saudi Arabia were dealt a blow ahead of the World Cup, as Fahad Al-Muwallad failed a drug test and was removed from the national squad. The attacker had represented his country at the 2018 World Cup, but WADA appealed the suspension, and Renard has decided to replace him with Nawaf Al-Abed.
Croatia's Last 5 Matches
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10/11/2022Saudi Arabia1Panama1International Friendlies
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06/11/2022Saudi Arabia1Iceland0International Friendlies
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26/10/2022Saudi Arabia1Albania1International Friendlies
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22/10/2022Saudi Arabia1North Macedonia0International Friendlies
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27/09/2022Saudi Arabia0USA0International Friendlies
Saudi Arabia Team News
Dalic should use the final friendly to prepare for his World Cup squad, and there are notable absentees from the squad. If defender Domagoj Vida plays, he will earn his 100th cap for Croatia. He will be the 10th player to reach this milestone and will level with Dario Simic in appearances.
Saudi Arabia's Last 5 Matches
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25/09/2022Austria1Croatia1Nations League
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22/09/2022Croatia2Denmark1Nations League
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13/06/2022France0Croatia1Nations League
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10/06/2022Denmark0Croatia1Nations League
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06/06/2022Croatia1France1Nations League
Croatia vs. Saudi Arabia: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Away Win: Yes
Best Odds
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