2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship – France vs Croatia Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is France vs Croatia taking place? Friday 21st June 2019 – 20:00 (UK)
Where is France vs Croatia taking place? Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle, Serravalle
What television channel is France vs Croatia on? Sky Sports Football
Where can I stream France vs Croatia? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for France vs Croatia? https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/newsid=2597855.html
THE TEAM NEWS
FRANCE
- An own goal late in stoppage time gave France a come-from-behind victory against pre-tournament favourites England in a very eventful encounter on Tuesday. France had trailed 1-0 in the closing stages with Moussa Dembélé and Houssem Aouar having both missed penalties, but Jonathan Ikoné's 89th-minute equaliser was followed by an Aaron Wan-Bissaka own goal in added time as France gained what looked like an unlikely victory.
- With only the group winner assured of a place in the semi-finals, the win against England has given France a good chance of making the last four for the first time since 2006.
- They look to be forced to make at least one change from the England match with Jonathan Bamba having to leave the field through injury following the rash tackle that led to the red card for Hamza Choudhury.
CROATIA
- Croatia’s first match at a UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament in 15 years ended in defeat when they were well beaten 4-1 by Romania on Tuesday in San Marino.
- They were stunned by two goals in the first 15 minutes of their match against Romania and although Vlašić did pull a goal back soon after, there was too little quality in and around the final third of the pitch to suggest they could turn the match around.
- The defeat in their opening match means they are still looking for their first win in the group stage at a UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament – they have now played seven group stage matches without registering a victory.
THE PREDICTION
France need to take advantage of their vital late victory against England by backing it up with a win against Croatia who will be smarting after they were on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline against Romania on matchday one. France showed enough threat in attack against England to suggest that they can create plenty of chances against a Croatian defence that struggled in their opening game and they are predicted to make it two wins from two games.
