Scotland welcome Croatia to Hampden Park for their UEFA Nations League clash on Friday evening. The Scots head into the match after a goalless draw against Portugal in their previous Nations League outing, while the Croats shared six goals in a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Poland. Both sides will be keen to secure three points in Glasgow as they look to improve their position in the group standings.
Where to watch Scotland vs Croatia live on TV and online
Football fans in the UK can catch Scotland vs Croatia live on Premier Sports Extra, while the match will also be streamed on multiple platforms including the Scotland National Team YouTube channel, UEFA TV, and Viaplay International's YouTube channel.
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Scotland vs Croatia Predictions
The bookies are viewing this clash between Scotland and Croatia as a fairly balanced affair, though no specific odds have been provided. Given both teams' recent performances and historical meetings, bookmakers appear hesitant to name a clear favourite for this international fixture at Hampden Park. The Scots and the Vatreni (Croatia's nickname) are likely to produce a tight contest, with the home advantage potentially giving Scotland a slight edge in the betting markets. However, without concrete odds information, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly how the bookmakers are leaning in terms of specific match outcome probabilities.
Scotland Recent Encounters
The Tartan Army have been enduring a rather difficult spell in their recent home fixtures at Hampden Park, struggling to find their rhythm in front of their passionate supporters. Their last home outing saw them hold Portugal to a goalless stalemate, but this positive result came after a concerning run where they've failed to secure a victory in their previous four home matches. The Scots suffered a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Poland and a gut-wrenching 1-0 loss to Hungary in their Euro Cup campaign, while only managing to nick a point against Switzerland in a 1-1 draw. Scotland's home form has been particularly concerning in terms of their defensive stability, having kept just one clean sheet in their last six matches at Hampden. The side has shown glimpses of attacking promise, but their inability to convert chances into goals has been a recurring theme, managing to score just four times in their last six home fixtures. This dip in home form is a far cry from the robust performances that Scottish fans have come to expect from their national team on home soil, and gaffer Steve Clarke will be keen to address these issues to restore Hampden Park's fortress-like reputation.
Croatia Form Analysis
Croatia's away form has been a mixed bag recently, with their most notable result being a thrilling 3-3 draw against Poland in their latest Nations League fixture. The Vatreni have shown they can compete on the road, but they've struggled to secure victories away from home, picking up just one point from their last two away matches. Their defensive record on their travels has been somewhat concerning, shipping five goals in these two fixtures against Poland and Portugal. Looking at the broader picture, Croatia have been involved in some proper end-to-end affairs away from home, displaying their attacking prowess but also revealing some defensive frailties. The 2-1 defeat to Portugal highlighted these issues, though they've consistently managed to find the back of the net in their away fixtures, scoring in each of their last two road games. Despite their reputation as a formidable side, they'll need to shore up their defence if they're to improve their away record, as they've been leaking goals at a rate that would concern any manager.
Summary of matches between Scotland vs Croatia
The head-to-head record between Croatia and Scotland is perfectly balanced, with both sides claiming two victories apiece from their four encounters. The Croats have proven to be formidable hosts, winning both of their home matches against the Scots, including their most recent clash in October 2024 where they emerged 2-1 victors in the UEFA Nations League. However, they've yet to taste success on Scottish soil, highlighting a clear home advantage pattern in this fixture. Scotland's record in this matchup is equally interesting, with the Tartan Army showing they can get results both home and away. They've managed to pick up one win each at home and on their travels, demonstrating their ability to compete with the 2018 World Cup finalists regardless of the venue. The absence of draws in their four meetings suggests these nations tend to produce decisive outcomes when they face off, making for entertaining football whenever they meet.
Where are Scotland and Croatia in the table?
Scotland currently sit fourth in the group while Croatia hold second spot in what's turning out to be a tight qualifying campaign. The Scots and the Blazers find themselves in contrasting positions as the race for qualification continues, with Croatia occupying one of the automatic qualification places and Scotland currently outside the top two spots in fourth position.
