Croatia Odds to Win Euro 2024

Croatia Odds to Win Euro 2024 (Via BetMGM)

Croatia’s History at the Euros

Croatia have never won at the Euros and their recent record doesn’t make for great viewing. In 2021 and 2016 they were eliminated in the Round of 16 while in 2012 they were knocked out in the group stage. However, there is reason for Croatians to feel optimistic. In the last two World Cups, they finished second and third. If they can bring their recent World Cup form into the European Championship they have a very good chance of winning the tournament.

Croatia Euro 2024 Group Breakdown

Croatia have been placed in Group B which many people have dubbed the Group of Death. In this group, they will face current holders Italy, Albania and Spain. This is a very tough group but there is no reason to say Croatia can’t get past it or even finish in first position.

Croatia Euro 2024 Schedule

Croatia have already played their first game of the tournament, in which they were hammered 3-0 by Spain. They then drew to Albania after conceding a late goal. This sets up a must-win final group-stage game against Italy on June 24th.

Croatia Odds to Win Euro 2024

Croatia are priced at 80/1 to win the Euros but I believe if they can get out of their group this price will fall quite heavily. They are my dark horses for the competition along with Belgium and at 80/1 are my favourite longshot bet for the summer. Germany and France are the favourites for the competition with odds of 4/1.

Top Players For Croatia in Euro 2024

Although I think Croatia are potential dark horses for the tournament, they will still need their key players to perform on the big stage in order to stand a chance. Below are three players I believe will be crucial to Croatia’s European Championship campaign.

Luka Modric

Luka Modric has been a crucial part of this Croatia side for nearly 20 years now and he will be as influential as ever at Euro 2024 in what could be his last ever international football tournament. The former Balon d’Or winner has been fantastic to watch for years now and is one of the greatest central midfielders of all time. Although he is coming to the end of his career, he will still have a massive role to play in this year’s tournament. Luka Modric is priced at 100/1 to win the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament.

Josko Gvardiol

Josko Gvardiol was signed for a lot of money by Manchester City last summer and at the start of his time in the Premier League, it looked to be money wasted rather than well spent. However, the Croatian turned his season around and even came up with a lot of crucial goals for Man City in their run to the title. He originally looked unable to adapt to his new position of left-back but eventually got used to the role and began to flourish. Although he played at left-back for Man City this season, he will likely be played in his more familiar role of centre-back this summer. Gvardiol is a major part of Croatia’s defence and will need to be at his best if Croatia are to have a chance at causing an upset this summer.

Mario Pasalic

Mario Pasalic is one of Croatia’s most creative players and after a strong season with Europa League winners Atalanta, many Croatian fans will be hoping he can play a key role for them this summer. Pasalic has good vision and passing ability, enabling him to create opportunities for his teammates and he also has a good eye for a goal considering he is a midfielder. Croatia may be relying on his ability to score as well as his creativity.

Croatia Top Scorer Odds for Euro 2024

Kramaric was very good in the Bundesliga scoring 15 league goals. Kramaric can be backed at 50/1 to win the Euro 2024 Golden Boot. Kylian Mbappe was priced as the favourite to be the top scorer with odds of 9/2 however a broken nose in game one has seen him go to second place at 10/1. Harry Kane is the new favourite with odds of 13/2.

Croatia Route to the Final

After Spain’s win against Italy, it is guaranteed that they will finish in first place. However, a win against Italy would see Croatia take second. If Croatia can clinch second, this is their route to the final.

Round of 16

In the round of 16, Croatia will play against the runner-up of Group A. This is expected to be either Switzerland or Scotland. This would be a draw that pleases Croatia as they are a better side than any of the other three teams.

Quarter Finals

If they get past Switzerland or Scotland, they will then face up against tournament favourites England in what would be a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final which Croatia won. If Croatia could knock England out of the competition there would be no reason to say they couldn’t go on and win the whole tournament.

Semi-Finals

If Croatia could get past England they would then have to face my favourites for the tournament, France in the semi-final. It would be an extremely tough task to knock out England and France in consecutive numbers.

Final

If they knocked out France and made it to the final, hosts Germany, three-time winners Spain, or Euro 2016 winners Portugal would be waiting for them in the final.

Expected Team Line Up for Croatia at the Euros

Zlatko Dalic will have to make some tough decisions for this upcoming Euros such as who will be the starting striker. Below I will try to predict Croatia’s starting 11 for Europe 2024.

Goalkeeper

Fenerbache goalkeeper Livakovic will without question be starting for Croatia this summer. He has over 50 caps for his country and has always been solid for them.

Defenders

Former Celtic player Josip Juranovic will be the starting right-back with Man City’s Gvardiol moving from left-back to centre-back alongside Croatia legend Vida. Bayer Leverkusen’s Josip Stanisic will likely start at left-back

Midfielders

The midfield picks itself, Luka Modric will be sure to start alongside Matteo Kovacic who joined Manchester City from Chelsea last summer and former Inter Milan man Brozovic.

Attackers

I predict Kramaric will start at striker despite Budimir’s form in Spain this season. Kramaric has 90 caps for his country so far and it is clear that the manager trusts him. I expect Pasalic and Ivan Perisic to play behind the striker.

Comparing Croatia to Other Teams to Win the Euros 2024

Although I believe Croatia are a dark horse for the competition, winning it will be far from easy due to the amount of quality other teams possess. Below I will discuss some of the other sides in the competition and compare them to Croatia.

Spain

Spain look good under new manager Luis De La Fuente however are missing a top marksman like their old teams used to have. Alvaro Morata is the current starting striker for Spain and although he is not a bad player, he can sometimes be wasteful in front of goal. This Spain side is probably better than Croatia’s though with players like Rodri in midfield. They also have possibly the most exciting teenage player in the world right now in Lamine Yamal. Spain’s odds to win the Euros are currently priced at 5/1 to win Euro 2024.

Belgium

Belgium are another nation I see as a dark horse despite their loss to Slovenia in game one. They have Kevin De Bruyne in midfield who is for me, the second-best player in the world. As well as this no other player scored as many goals in the qualifying groups as Romelu Lukaku did. If he can carry that form into this summer’s tournament he could pose a real threat to other teams. Belgium’s odds to win the Euros are 22/1 which in my opinion is a bit high.

France

France are my favourite to win the Euros. They are arguably tied with England for the most talented international squad in the world but unlike England, have shown a track record of consistently getting far in international tournaments. They were in the 2016 Euros final, won the World Cup in 2018 and finished as runner-up in the 2022 World Cup. They also have the best player in the world playing for them in Mbappe. For those reasons, France are my favourites for this year’s European Championship. France to win the Euros can be backed at 4/1.