Rarely who could expect to see the host nation in the last eight of the 2018 World Cup, but Sbornaya upset the odds with a good chance to even reach the Semi-Finals. On the other side, Croatia is having a wonderful tournament so far, but the Blazers will also play against the whole Fisht Stadium in Sochi, as the game is scheduled for this Saturday, July 7th, 2018.
Russia vs. Croatia
3-Way: 1: Russia +300; X: +210 Draw; 2: Croatia +120 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +0.5: Russia -140; Croatia +120
Total +2: Over +104; Under -112
Both Teams to Score Yes/No: +110/-152
RUSSIA
Russia has finished at the second spot of the Group A table with a couple of wins against Saudi Arabia 5-0 and Egypt 3-1, while the hosts were beaten by Uruguay 3-0. They were huge underdogs in the last-16 match with Spain, but with an exceptional team defense, Sbornaya managed to resist the Red Fury and eventually win the game on a penalty shootout where the experienced keeper Igor Akinfeev was a real hero. The manager Stanislav Cherchesov preferred a 4-5-1 system in the group stage, but he switched to a 5-4-1 system in the clash against Spain, so he obviously has a lot of options among his squad.
Cherchesov knew he doesn’t stand a chance in an open-flow game, and parking the bus in front of Akinfeev was the only reasonable setup. The powerhouse forward Artem Dzyuba is playing very well, the young playmaker Aleksandr Golovin is a true leader despite his tender age, while the experienced defender Sergei Ignashevich holds the things at the back. The talismanic midfielder Alan Dzagoev could be available after recovering from a hamstring injury, and it should be a huge boost for Sbornaya.
- Russia is at +137 to qualify for the last four
- Russia is at +500 to play in the Final
- Russia is a +2000 underdog to beat the 2018 World Cup
CROATIA
Croatia has surprisingly recorded all three wins in the Group D, beating Nigeria 2-0, Argentina 3-0, and Iceland 2-1 respectively, and showing some remarkable short-passing play that allowed them to control the tempo of each encounter. However, the Blazers had a difficult time in the last-16 match with Denmark, beating the Danes after the penalty shootout where Danijel Subasic made three excellent saves to lead his side to the Quarter-Finals.
The Blazers have shown they possess some amazing individuals in the middle of the park where the captain Luka Modric orchestrate the play along with Ivan Rakitic, while wingers Ante Rebic and Ivan Perisic are playing in a great form in Russia. Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren is a true defensive rock, and a reliable work at the back should be a key factor for Croatia’s eventual success at the 2018 World Cup. On the other hand, the pressure on their shoulders is huge, so we shall see if Blazers are capable of achieving something great.
- Croatia is at -175 to qualify for the Semi-Final
- Croatia is at +187 to reach the Final
- Croatia is a +600 favorite to beat the 2018 World Cup
Russia vs. Croatia – Match and Odds Breakdown
Croatia is undoubtedly more talented team than Sbornaya, and the bettors can expect to see Blazers controlling the flow of the clash with their exceptional fluid passing game. The hosts will probably take a cautious approach, launching counter-attacks whenever it’s possible, while they will have a massive support from the audience.
Betting on the totals could be a tricky job, and the bookies don’t expect to see a bunch of goals, setting -215 odds on the under 2.5 goals. However, the potential opener would be a huge gamechanger, while +110 wages on both teams to score look quite tempting. If the Blazers find their form from the group stage matches, they will be closer to the Semi-Finals, while the bettors can check out all lines and markets on BetDSI Sportsbook.
The Pick: Croatia (+120)
