Mixed martial arts Croatia vs Canada Bet Builder Tips: Shots & Corners Make 2.10 Prop Builder
Croatia vs Canada Bet Builder Tips: Sunday, November 27th
I have pored over the stats from the opening round of games in the 2022 World Cup to bring you my Croatia vs Canada bet builder tips. The Khalifa International Stadium plays host as the Blazers take on the Maple Leafs in a game that concludes the second round of fixtures in Group F.
In this article:
Croatia vs Canada Preview
World Cup Group F, Sunday, November 27th, 16:00 (UK)
Croatia opened their sixth World Cup campaign with a disappointing stalemate against Morocco. Zlatko Dalić’s side offered little in the final third and can have no complaints about sharing the points.
That said, Dominik Livakovic was also largely untroubled in the Croatian goal. The beaten finalists in 2018 lined up with only four players who started against France four years ago. But the midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic remain and still make up one of the best engine rooms at the tournament.
They will look to have more influence than at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday. That draw ended a run of four successive competitive international wins for the Blazers but does mean they have now lost just once in the last 17.
Canada were unfortunate to suffer a 1-0 defeat at the hands of second-ranked Belgium in their World Cup curtain raiser. I expected a strong performance from the best side in CONCACAF qualifying. But thought they would have to threaten on the counterattack while having plenty of defending to do.
That wasn’t the case. The Maple Leafs outplayed their illustrious opponents and will rue several missed opportunities, especially in the opening period. None more so of course than Alphonso Davies’s tame penalty in the 10th minute that was comfortably saved by Thibaut Courtois. Les Rouges won the shot count 22-9 and xG 2.63 to 0.77 to illustrate their dominance. But losing the most important stat 1-0 means they go into this clash at the foot of the group.
Croatia vs Canada Stats & Facts
- Croatia had just five shots in their opening game against Morocco, their lowest total in a single World Cup match. Croatia averaged 16.1 shots-per-game in the 2018 edition of the tournament
- Against Morocco, 20-year-old Josko Gvardiol both attempted (115) and completed (102) more passes than any Croatia player has ever done in a single World Cup match
- Croatia’s goalless draw with Morocco on MD1 ended their run of scoring in 11 consecutive World Cup matches. Only once have they failed to score in consecutive games at the same edition of the tournament, doing so in their first two group games in 2006
- Canada have lost all four of their World Cup matches without scoring a single goal. This is the most games any nation has played without ever scoring in the competition
Croatia vs Canada Bet Builder
While Croatia were shot-shy in their opener against Morocco registering just five attempts at goal, Canada certainly were not. Their 22 attempted shots in the defeat to Belgium on MD1, was twice as many as their previous record in a World Cup match. The only disappointment for John Herdman would be that just three of those efforts were on target. One of which was the missed penalty.
Jonathan David accounted for seven of those shots. Incredibly all came from inside the box, but with none on target. Since Opta have this data available (from 1966), this is a joint-high for shots inside the box by a player in a single World Cup match without one being on target. Paolo Barison also achieved this feat for Italy against DPR Korea in 1966.
As one of the oldest phrases in the book states it is more worrying if the chances weren’t coming. Given the 22-year-old David has nine goals in 15 appearances for Lille in Ligue 1 this season, the Croats shouldn’t rely on him being so profligate in Doha. Taking David to have two or more shots here provides a solid foundation for our builder. He has had a total of 50 attempts at goal in the French top flight this term at an average of 3.33 per game. Interestingly 52% have been on target.
I mentioned earlier that Canada’s performance against Belgium was just as strong as I had hoped. Herdman’s team exuded self-belief. Davies, David and especially Tajon Buchanan attacked with pace and purpose. As usual, there was plenty of width in Les Rouges’ play. Crosses came in and in fact, Canada had far more shots than even they could have expected.
Four corners were won, enough to land that part of the Belgium builder, but there should have been more. Judging by the bullish post-match statements from the Canadian manager, they will take this game to Croatia. Match corners will form the second leg of the builder this time. Seven of the Croats’ last 10 competitive internationals have seen eight or more flag kicks. While only one of Canada’s last 10 competitive internationals has failed to see eight or more corners taken.
- Jonathan David over 1.5 shots
- Over 7.5 total corners
Bet Builder odds: 2.10
Odds via bet365 as at 13:00 November 27th 2022. Odds may now differ.
