Peru take on Croatia in Florida on Saturday morning, with the two World Cup stepping up preparations for this summer’s Finals in Russia. The countdown to the famous tournament has well and truly begun, with many predicting an entertaining clash when the South American and European nations go head-to-head.
International Friendly – Hard Rock Stadium, Florida – Saturday 24th March – 12:00am UK Time
Peru vs Croatia Match Preview
World Cup Finalists Peru and Croatia face-off against each other in the US later this week, with both teams hoping to extend their impressive runs of form over recent months with a win. Managers Ricardo Gareca and Zlatko Dalić are both close to finalising their squads for the competition in Russia, however both sides have named players inexperienced players hoping to make a name for themselves. For those still unsure of who to back ahead of kick-off, be sure to check out our top betting tip below. However, let’s first take a closer look at the two teams, starting with the home side.
Peru Team News & Form
Peru are currently on a run of six matches unbeaten in all competitions, with draws against both Argentina and Colombia helping them to qualify for the World Cup Finals later this year. The South American’s may not have a host of world class talent to call upon, however they have proven themselves to be extremely hard to beat. The likes of Jefferson Farfan, Andre Carrillo and Yoshimar Yotún are among their most talented and experienced players, with the trio almost certain to start against Croatia.
Croatia Team News & Form
Croatia defeated Greece over two legs back in November in order to qualify for the World Cup, with the European’s now having lost just one of their last six matches, coming against Turkey. The likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic are set to pose a constant threat to the Peru back line, with the foursome having earned over 300 caps between them, as well as scoring a combined 73 goals. Elsewhere, former Tottenham Hotspur defender Vedran Corluka and Atletico Madrid man Šime Vrsaljko could well line up for Croatia in the US.
Peru vs Croatia Head to Head
The two nations are yet to meet in a competitive fixture, meaning that no conclusions can be made when it comes to their head-to-head record.
Peru vs Croatia Betting Odds and Predictions
Despite their run of six matches without defeat, it comes as little surprise that it is Peru who are the narrow underdogs for victory with the majority of bookmakers. The South American’s can be backed for victory at odds of 15/4 with bookmaker Paddy Power, while Croatia are priced at 4/5 on the same platform. Meanwhile, a draw is available to back at best odds of 23/10 with SkyBet.
Peru vs Croatia Betting Tip
However, our top betting tip for the match is to bet on Croatia to defeat Peru and both teams to score during the 90 minutes in Florida later this week, with odds of 8/5 available at Ladbrokes.