Croatia will look to seal top spot in Group L and confirm their place at next summer’s World Cup as they welcome the Faroe Islands to Rijeka on Friday night.
Croatia have picked up 16 points from their opening six qualifiers, meaning they have guaranteed a top-two finish and require just a point to win Group L.
Zlatco Dalic’s hosts have only dropped points in a goalless draw in Prague, firing in an impressive 20 goals across their five victories, only conceding once in a 5-1 thrashing at home to Czechia.
The Faroe Islands began their World Cup qualifying campaign with successive defeats away to Czechia and Montenegro.
However, Eydun Klakstein’s visitors have remarkably gone on to win four of their next five qualifiers (W4-D0-L1), including back-to-back memorable victories at home to Montenegro (4-0) and Czechia (2-1).
Those victories mean the Faroes currently sit in third position, just a point behind second-placed Czechia, but know a defeat in Rijeka on Friday night will end their playoff hopes.
How the bookies view it: Croatia clear favourites
As expected, Croatia come into this clash as clear favourites, with BOYLE Sports pricing a home success at just 1/11.
The Faroes are a massive 28/1 with the same firm to keep their playoff hopes alive, whilst the draw is 17/2.
Head to head: Two on the bounce for Croatia?
The reverse fixture in October was the first time these two nations have ever crossed paths, with an Andrej Kramaric goal enough to seal a one-goal victory.
Players to watch: Kramaric to star again?
Andrej Kramaric has had a fine start to the campaign for Hoffenheim, with his three goals and three assists helping propel the Sinsheim-based club into sixth position in the Bundesliga table, just three points behind RB Leipzig in second.
The ex-Leicester City attacker has also bagged an impressive six goals in qualification for Croatia – including the only goal in the reverse fixture – and the 21/20 on offer at Bet365 for him to score on Friday appeals to me.
Predicted line-ups:
Croatia will be without the injured duo Mateo Kovacic and Ante Budimir, but Josip Stanisic and Nikola Vlasic have been recalled.
The Faroe Islands appear to have a fully fit squad to choose from.
Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Sulato, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol, Modric, Susic, Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic, Ivanovic
Faroe Islands: Lamhauge, Faero, Vatnhamar, Edmundsson, Danielsen, Hendriksson, Turi, Davidsen, Frekriksberg, Sorensen, Edmundsson
Anything else catch the eye?
Croatia have fired in 20 goals across their opening six qualifiers, but just one of those came in the reverse fixture with the Faroes, so a low-scoring home victory is my preferred approach.
Eydur Klakstein’s visitors have lost away to Poland, Czechia (twice), Latvia, North Macedonia and Montenegro in the past two years in competitive fixtures, with each defeat featuring fewer than four goals.
Croatia to Win & Under 3.5 Goals was also a winning selection in their last qualifier at home to minnows Gibraltar, and a repeat on Friday night pays 21/20 at BOYLE Sports.
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