Football Tips: Andy Robson’s expecting fouls in this 15/1 Spain v Croatia Bet Builder

Andy Robson expects Spain to master the dark arts in Berlin.

Spain v Croatia bet builder tips, euro 2024, saturday 15th june 2024

Spain v Croatia Betting Tips

Over 5.5 Spain Corners
Over 1.5 Spain Cards
Halftime Draw
Spain to Commit 11 or more Fouls

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Saturday, June 15: 5pm – Spain v Croatia
Euro 2024 Group B match – Berlin
TV: ITV/ RTE2

Over 5.5 Spain Corners

The Spanish have undergone a tactical evolution under Luis de la Fuente, with a more progressive and direct approach than the tiki-taka football we are used to. This might be perhaps born out of his coaching style but also thanks to the make-up of this current Spain squad.

Spain have hit this line in four of their last five games against the Croatians and have averaged seven a game in their last ten outings.

With two genuinely electric wide players in Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal and Croatia’s tactics of compressing the space in the middle, it opens the door for the Spanish to rack up a significant corner count, especially if the game is as tight as expected and a breakthrough is needed.

Croatia will be happy to see off some of those attacks with full confidence in their aerial strength, combating any corners that come in.

Over 1.5 Spain Cards

La Roja average 1.8 cards per game over their last ten matches but that figure rises when playing against the better nations. Even in a friendly against Brazil in March they picked up three yellow cards.

In qualifying they picked up four away to Norway, four at home to Scotland and still managed two while thrashing Georgia 7-1. In Spain’s last game against Croatia, three yellow cards were awarded to the Spanish, preceding three against Italy in the Nations League game prior to that.

Given the technical prowess and shrewd nature of the Croatian midfield and the underlying numbers, there’s a strong shout for a few Spanish cards.

 

Halftime Draw

Despite some high-scoring contests in their recent past, five of the last six encounters between the two sides have been level at the halftime break.

Considering the nature of opening games generally being more cagey affairs and both teams without any necessary urgency to break the deadlock quickly, this could pan out as a very tight opening 45 minutes. We also have the 1-1 or even 2-2 on our side if things get a little wild.

Spain to Commit 11 or more Fouls

Probably the strongest selection of the lot, Spain love to foul.

Their averages are skewed by recent games against relatively weak nations where Spain dominated the ball and had no real recourse to nullify any major attacking threat.

When they have played against better nations, their foul stats are significant. In their March friendlies against Brazil and Colombia they racked up 35 fouls in the two games. The last time they played Croatia they managed 18 in the game and 24 in the preceding game against Italy.

Going back to the World Cup, they exited the tournament after committing 14 fouls (albeit after extra time) against Morocco. If all signs point to a difficult battle in the centre of the pitch, the Spanish propensity for breaking up the play makes this an attractive leg to add to the builder.

Spain v Croatia Bet Builder Tips

Over 5.5 Spain Corners
Over 1.5 Spain Cards
Halftime Draw
Spain to Commit 11 or more Fouls

All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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