England's upcoming game against Croatia is a Group stage match that puts two European sides together with a very long and intense history of their confrontations in the tournament.
Big matches like this have the potential to very subtly change the path of the group, and the two teams will want to get points early. They might not want to finish with more pressure from the games that they play later on.
📊 Head-to-Head
Up to now, these teams have played 11 games against each other, with England coming out on top in 6, Croatia winning 3, and 2 matches finishing as draws.
They have exchanged their shots in major events and even in the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final, where a 2-1 victory by Croatia sent them to their first-ever final. Their latest game was at UEFA Euro 2020, where England took the 3 points with a 1-0 win in the group stage.
🔥 Recent Form
England have gradually become a team that not only has great attacking players but also knows how to structure the team and stay organized. They are quite comfortable in possession most of the time as they have the ability to dictate the tempo.
For their part, Croatia keep counting on kitting out their players with maturity and skills to have men who can respond adequately even when the opposition is very strong.
⚔️ Match Strategy
England will probably be the team that tries to do the first things, i.e. to have the ball and score. They will try to create openings through movements and creativity in the final third.
Croatia might depend on midfield control and dictating the pace of the game. They will use their serenity and excellent passing skills to make chances.
