Croatia backed to beat Czech Republic in Nations League opener

Slaven Bilic and Santi Denia start their Nations League campaigns on Saturday evening in Prague.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 23 September 2026

Fortuna Arena hosts Group A3 action this Saturday as the Czech Republic and Croatia begin new managerial eras. Santi Denia takes charge of the home side while Slaven Bilic returns for a second spell with the visitors. England and Spain complete this tough group.

Czech squad problems

The hosts enter this fixture with major selection concerns after a poor World Cup showing. Several established players retired from international duty recently, and Tomas Soucek misses out through injury. Tomas Chory, Pavel Sulc and Adam Hlozek need to carry the attacking load against experienced opponents.

Croatian midfield strength

Croatia also suffered disappointment at the World Cup but retains a settled core. Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic provide the quality needed to control possession and break through defensive lines. Slaven Bilic is expected to stick with a back four as his team looks to start strong.

Betting market analysis

Punters looking at the outright odds find Croatia priced at 6/5 with 1xBet to claim victory. The home side managed a scoreless draw against this opponent last October and needs similar defensive discipline. Heavy squad turnover makes the hosts longer in the betting market for this fixture.

What it means for a bet

Back Croatia at 6/5 with 1xBet because their settled midfield gives them a clear edge over a transitioning home side.

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