Croatia vs Scotland predictions: Modric’s vets can nick narrow win

– Croatia were Nations League runners-up last year
– Scotland have lost both their Nations League matches
– Recommended bet: Croatia to win 2-1

Croatia welcome Scotland to Zagreb for their Nations League A Group 1 showdown in good spirits, having snapped a four-game winless streak with a 1-0 success over Poland.

The hugely experienced Croatians will hope to go back-to-back against a Scotland side who are without a win in eight competitive internationals.

Injuries to Marin Pongracic and Josip Stanisic leave Croatia short-handed at the back and they are likely to go with a 3-4-3 set-up, as they did in their 1-0 win over Poland last month.

Josip Sutalo and Ivan Perisic are doubts, while Mateo Kovacic did not train on Monday.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke is missing a host of key men, including keeper Angus Gunn, Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn and full-backs Nathan Patterson and Kieran Tierney.

Craig Gordon, the 41-year-old Hearts goalkeeper, has been recalled and is in line for his 76th cap at the back of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Croatia have won only one of their last five matches, beating Poland 1-0 in Osijek last month.

Scotland have won only one of their last 14 internationals, a 2-0 win over Gibraltar in a friendly.

Midfielder Scott McTominay has scored in three of his last four internationals.

The Scots have won two and lost just one of their six meetings with Croatia. The one loss, however, was their last meeting, a 3-1 defeat at Euro 2020.

Croatia can build on last month’s 1-0 win over Poland by seeing off an injury-plagued and out-of-form Scotland at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb.

Both these countries were hoping to use the Nations League as a way of erasing memories of hugely disappointing European Championship campaigns in the summer.

Croatia were eliminated from the Euros in the dying seconds of their final group game against Italy, while the Scots never really recovered from their 5-1 drubbing by Germany in the opening match.

Scotland have since lost their two Nations League fixtures, 3-2 at home by Poland and 2-1 in Portugal. They were competitive in both and will be again, but they are finding it tough in European football’s top tier and another narrow defeat is anticipated.

In players such as Andy Robertson, McTominay and Ryan Christie they have plenty of big-league experience.

But that is still dwarfed by the pedigree coursing through a Croatia squad featuring veterans Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric.

The next generation also looks safe in the hands of players such as Josko Gvardiol, Luka Sucic and Marco Pasalic and Croatia appear to have a really pleasing blend under Zlatko Dalic.

A home win is on the cards, but Scotland are nothing if not competitive, so expect something tight, maybe a 2-1 win.

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