Wales prepare for a huge game in the Euro 2020 qualification match at home against Croatia, knowing that a win could help them take a huge step forward in qualifying for UEFA’s quadrennial showpiece event which will be held in 12 different countries in 2020.
How Wales and Croatia have performed so far the likely scenario!
Wales drew 1-1 away at Slovakia in the last game, a result which Ryan Giggs highlighted as a step in the right direction.
With two wins, two losses and one draw, Wales remain outside the top-two in Group E but have played a game fewer than Croatia, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Even if Ryan Giggs’ men lose this game against Croatia, they will still qualify for the Euro 2020 if they win in the final two games and Croatia beat Hungary.
Croatia are at the top of the table, having accumulated 13 points from the first six games.
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Match Details
Date- Monday, October 14
Kick-Off- 12:15 AM (IST)
Venue- Cardiff City Stadium
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Wales vs Croatia team news:
Wales Team News:
The hosts have some injury issues ahead of this game. They are still waiting for their star playmaker Aaron Ramsey to feature in this tournament. The ex-Arsenal star was named in the squad but stayed behind in Cardiff after feeling a pain in his thigh following Juventus’ 1-2 win over Inter Milan last weekend. He remains a doubt for this game as well.
In addition, three Wales players left the pitch after the game against Hungary with some knocks.
Striker Kieffer Moore, who opened the scoring in the last game, jobbled off the pitch at the end of the game, while Jonny Williams and Ethan Ampadu will also need to prove their match fitness ahead of this game.
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Croatia Team News:
Croatia have no fresh injury concerns ahead of this game, but thye will be without their star midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, who serves a one-game ban due to the accumulation of yellow cards.
Mateo Kovacic is expected to replace Brozivic in the playing 11.
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Squads:
Wales:
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies
Defenders: Chris Gunter, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor, Connor Roberts, Chris Mepham, Tom Lockyer, Joe Rodon
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Jonny Williams, Harry Wilson, Matthew Smith, Will Vaulks, Joe Morrell
Attackers: Daniel James, Gareth Bale, Sam Vokes, Tom Lawrence, Tyler Roberts, Rabbi Matondo, Kieffer Moore.
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Croatia:
Goalkeepers: Simon Sluga, Lovre Kalinić, Dominik Livaković
Defenders: Mile Škorić, Dario Melnjak, Dino Perić, Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren, Tin Jedva, Borna Barišić, Karlo Bartolec
Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić, Mateo Kovačić, Ante Rebić, Josip Brekalo, Milan Badelj, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Filip Bradarić
Attackers: Ivan Perišić, Bruno Petković, Ante Rebić, Josip Brekalo, Mislav Oršić
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Predicted line-ups:
Wales: Hennessey (GK), Roberts, Lockyer, Rodon, Davies, Ampadu, Allen, Wilson, Williams, James, Bale
Croatia: Livakovic (GK), Jedvaj, Lovren, Vida, Barisic, Modric, Brozovic, Rakitic, Perisic, Rebic, Petkovic
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CRO vs WAL Dream11 Team:
Suggested combination:
CRO vs WAL Dream11 Fantasy picks:
Gareth Bale:
Daniel James:
Joe Allen: The under-values, under-appreciated. He can make a pass or two from the midfield.
Ivan Perisic:
Bruno Petkovic:
Ante Rebic: