Croatia vs Malta Prediction & Betting Tips - World Cup

Prediction published on 28/03/2021, 10:51  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 28/03/2021 at 11:54 in World Cup Prediction

Croatia were still far from their best even as they claimed a first win in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Group H with a 1-0 victory over Cyprus. They will be hosting Malta in their third match, seeking three points to push them in a group that also has Russia. Going to this game third placed Croatia have three points from two matches and Malta have one point from two matches and are bottom. Heading to this game, Croatia have one win and four losses in their last six matches and one area they really need to check on, is their defence. They have one clan sheet in their last 13 matches – the win over Cyprus but in attack they’ve done well, scoring in 22 of 23 matches. The only time they’ve failed to score in the last 23 matches was against Slovenia and they lost that game. Three losses in their last four matches should offer Croatia more reason to go for a win here and playing at home is an advantage. They have nine wins 12 home matches ahead of this and have lost just three of their last 13 at home. In World Cup qualification matches, they are unbeaten in eight at home, winning six of them and keeping five clean sheets. This will be the ninth time Croatia faces Malta; they’ve won each of the last four meetings and seven of the eight, while drawing one.

Malta were on the verge of a historic win over Slovakia in their last game, after taking a 2-0 first half lead. However, they let it slip between their fingers and the game ended 2-2, leaving them winless in their last three matches. This will be their second straight away match and after getting one point in the last, they’ll want to improve here against a much tougher opponent. Save for Russia, Malta have played much weaker opponents in their recent matches and they have only lost once in the last nine matches – against Russia. In World Cup qualification matches, Malta have no win in 16; they’ve lost 14 of those and away from home in the same qualifiers, they are winless in seven. They’ve scored just four goals in their last 16 away matches in World Cup qualifiers.