Euro 2016 preview and odds: Turkey vs Croatia

Published on: 12/06/2016

Euro 2016 preview and odds: Turkey vs Croatia

Parc des Princes, Paris - June 12, 2016

Group stage - Group D

After meeting at the quarter-final stage of this competition in 2008 and again in Euro 2012 play-offs, Turkey and Croatia will resume their rivalry in this Group D clash at Parc des Princes on Sunday.

Euro rivals meet again

Turkey and Croatia have enjoyed regular encounters in the European Championships over the last 20 years. In 1996, it was Croatia who came out on top in their group stage clash, while Turkey gained revenge with a penalty shootout win in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008. More recently, Croatia ran out 3-0 winners in the Euro 2012 play-offs. Once this this tournament is over, the clubs will have to face each other once again in the 2018 World Cup qualifying rounds.

With Spain and the Czech Republic also in this group, this match could be decisive in deciding who will progress along with Vincente del Bosques men. Turkey will face the difficult task of cutting off the supply line to Mario Mandukić with deep-lying midfielders Selçuk İnan and Ozan Tufan sharing this responsibility. Fatih Terims men come into this game on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run in competitive matches, having not conceded in their last three.

The Croatians believe that they have assembled a squad capable of reaching the later stages of the tournament and confidence is sky high amongst Ante Čačićs men. They come into this game having recorded a record 10-0 win in a friendly match against San Marino.

Form (all competitions):

Turkey: WWLWWDWWWW

Croatia: WWDWWWWLDD

Betting predictions

Croatia are playing in the fourth-straight Euro finals and their fifth since gaining independence. They have twice reached the last eight of the tournament. It has been suggested that their current selection is the best that they have ever assembled and they have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Turkey were semi-finalists eight years ago but their current squad is perhaps lacking in the overall quality and experience required.

You can back Croatia to win at 21/20 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 12/06/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (12/06/2016 12:27:07) but are subject to change.