Kick-off: 3 September @ 17:00 CET
Venue: Bakcell Arena (Baku, Azerbaijan)
Past meetings
Croatia v Azerbaijan 6-0 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Azerbaijan
Last 5 matches:
Croatia v Azerbaijan 6-0 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Azerbaijan v Norway 0-1 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Azerbaijan v Malta 2-0 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Serbia v Azerbaijan 4-1 (International friendly)
Norway v Azerbaijan 0-0 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Team News:
Namig Alasgarov (1/0) and Maksim Medvedev (30/0) miss out on the squad through injury, whereas key midfielder Javid Huseynov (45/2) is unavailable having been arrested after his cousins killed a journalist that the player had threatened to.
The likes of Elvin Mammadov (34/7) and league top scorer Nurlan Novruzov (0/0) have been removed from the preliminary squad by Croatian coach Robert Prosinecki, who has brought serious improvement to the Azerbaijan national team.
Milli have shown a great deal of promise since losing 6-0 in the reverse fixture and they will be relying on sold-out stadium as well as hot and humid weather conditions to try and frustrate their more illustrious opponents.
Players to watch: Dimitrij Nazarov, Rauf Aliyev.
Probable starting line-up (4-5-1): K. Agayev – Mirzabekov, R.F. Sadygov, Guseynov, Dashdemirov – Ismayilov, Amirguliyev, Garayev, R.A. Sadigov, Nazarov – Aliyev.
Croatia
Last 5 matches:
Argentina v Croatia 2-1 (International friendly)
Italy v Croatia 1-1 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Croatia v Norway 5-1 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Croatia v Gibraltar 4-0 (International friendly)
Croatia v Italy 1-1 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Team News:
Youngsters Halilovic (7/0), Rog (1/0), Pasalic (2/0) and Simunovic (0/0) have been left out of the Croatia squad for Euro 2021 qualifiers to help the Under-21 side, whereas Hajduk Split starlet Mijo Caktas is in line to win his first cap.
Key midfielder Luka Modric picked up an ankle injury playing for Real Madrid at the weekend, but the problem is not too serious and he should be in the starting line-up in Baku, with Marcelo Brozovic and Dejan Lovren shaking off minor problems as well. Captain Darijo Srna (123/21) is suspended.
Croatia players are aware they will not have an easy job in Azerbaijan in spite of the 6-0 win in the first meeting between the two sides, but a victory would see them all but secure a place at the tournament finals.
Check out enhanced odds promotions for Azerbaijan v Croatia game.
Players to watch: Luka Modric, Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Rakitic.
Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Subasic – Vrsaljko, Vida, Corluka, Pranjic – Modric, Brozovic – Rakitic, Kovacic, Perisic – Mandzukic.
Azerbaijan v Croatia betting odds & tips
*With mere three goals scored in Azerbaijan’s last three qualifiers, bear in mind that under 2.5 goals pays 1.85 (17/20).
*Croatia head into the game with star-studded line-up and having won the reverse fixture 6-0, they are 2.00 (1/1) for a half-time/full-time win.
*Seeing as they are two points clear of Italy at the moment, Croatia look a good bet at 2.10 (11/10) to win Group H.