Croatia to Win
Under 2.5 Goals
Luka Modric to attempt 90 or more passes
Luke Modric to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
*A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 32/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Sunday 4pm: Croatia v Canada
TV: BBC, RTE
Canada’s performance against Belgium was one of the highlights of the World Cup so far for me. The mighty Chanuks huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow Belgium’s door down as they lost 1-0 on Wednesday night.
Sure, the end product was desperately, excruciatingly, lacking but my God did they give everything against The Red Devils’ aging golden generation. It was everything you wanted from a relative minnow and it came complete with some comedy finishing to boot and the lads back in Toronto were more in danger of being hit by the ball than Thibaut Courtois.
On another day they’d have taken a point against the side that is, somehow, ranked No.2 in the FIFA rankings. Here they face another heavyweight in Croatia and we could be in for another barnstorming contest on Sunday afternoon. However, you’ve got to back Luka Modric & Co to have the nous to get over the line so we’ll kick off with Croatia to Win.
Under 2.5 Goals
Croatia saw out a bleak 0-0 with Morocco in their opener and they simply have to get the three points here with Belgium up next in their final group game. While this might be quite open, the attacking talents on display leave a lot to be desired.
We saw just the one goal across these two’s first games and I suspect this will be another 1-0 loss for Canada. Their finishing against the Belgians was simply appalling so it’s hard to see them netting. Croatia’s guile should see them through but only just. It’s got to be Under 2.5 Goals.
Luka Modric to attempt 90 or more passes
Luka Modric is surely going to be the difference here. Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or winner had a typically tidy match against Morocco and attempted 86 passes in that game.
This is a bit of a risk because Canada will throw the kitchen sink at this game but their attacking style will leave the midfield wide open. He was just four shy of this marker in the first match and there’s a great price on Modric to attempt 90 or more passes.
Luke Modric to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
Excuse the Modric love in but it’s not that often a player of his class comes up against such accommodating opposition and it would be rude not to take advantage. Modric will orchestrate things and there’s always a point when he gets fed up with knocking it about to others and has a crack himself.
He clocked a shot on target in the opener and there’s a very tempting price on him to do so again here. Whether this is a thrill-a-minute barnburner or a more controlled tactical affair, Modric to Have 1 or More Shots on Target is a great play.
Croatia v Canada
Croatia to Win
Under 2.5 Goals
Luka Modric to attempt 90 or more passes
Luke Modric to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
*A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 32/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Sunday’s World Cup Betting Tips
- Mark Lawrenson’s 4 Sunday selections with 11/1 play
- Football Tips: Japan v Costa Rica best bets for Sunday morning
- Football Tips: Our 11/1 Belgium v Morocco Bet Builder
- Bet Builder Tips: Thommo has Torres on target in his 10/1 Spain v Germany punt
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