Croatia vs Ghana Bet Builder Tips: Modric’s men meet the Black Stars

Croatia meet Ghana as their respective Group L campaigns draw to a close (10pm BST, 5pm local, ITV4 & ITVX). The Black Stars are a point ahead of the Checkered Ones, with a place in the knockouts looking likely for both teams. Ghana can still go top if England slip up against Panama, but the African side will need a win here to do so.

Keep reading as I offer up my Croatia vs Ghana Bet Builder tips.

Croatia vs Ghana Odds

Croatia to win

Ghana are better off in Group L by virtue of their draw with England, but Croatia have more man-for-man talent in their squad. The intense physicality the Black Stars exerted on England (their 24 fouls were the highest single-game total in the tournament after the first two rounds of fixtures) earned them a share of the spoils.

But you’d imagine Croatia will have learned some lessons from a Three Lions side they stuck two goals past in a 4-2 opening defeat. The Checkered Ones can pick their way through a Ghana team that comes to get rough. The ingenuity of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic can dovetail with the direct running of Ivan Perisic and Martin Baturina to find all three points.

Jordan Ayew 3+ fouls

Ghana are second in the fouls table behind Haiti. Jordan Ayew, latterly of Leicester City, is their single biggest culprit. The all-time top scorer and appearance-maker for the Black Stars has committed six fouls across two games.

The 34-year-old likes to nag and prod an opposing defence. With the officials surely briefed on Ghana’s infractions over the first two matches, expect Ayew to be pulled up for his gamesmanship on a trio of occasions here, matching his per-90 average.

Both teams to score - Yes

Croatia are nowhere near airtight as a defensive unit. Ghana have quality in their ranks. Along with record-setting Ayew, manager Carlos Queiroz has talent like Manchester City’s intelligent winger Antoine Semenyo, the threat of Lyon forward Ernest Nuamah and Nordsaelland’s Caleb Yirenkyi, who bagged the winner against Panama.

Croatia know their way to the goal too. Ante Budimir did the necessary to dispatch Panama while Baturina and Petar Musa bloodied England’s nose in a thrilling encounter. Chuck in Modric, Perisic, Mario Pasalic and Andrej Kramaric and Croatia have more than enough firepower to register.

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