Croatia vs Portugal

❌ Croatia

• FIFA Ranking: 12

• Recent 5 Matches: Loss-Win-Win-Draw-Loss

• Croatia prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation with structured possession play. In the last match against Scotland (0-1 loss), they suffered a late goal after going down to 10 men due to a red card. Perišić (RW), Vlašić (AMC), and Baturina (LW) form the attacking trio behind Kramarić (FW), who supports attacking link-ups by dropping deeper. However, Modrić (CM) and Kovačić (CM) often lack defensive contributions, leaving gaps in midfield. Šutalo (DC) and Ćaleta-Car (DC) are strong in aerial duels but may struggle against Portugal’s quick counter-attacks.

• Unavailable Player: Sučić (MF / ★★★)

❌ Portugal

• FIFA Ranking: 7

• Recent 5 Matches: Win-Win-Win-Draw-Win

• Portugal employs a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on strong wing play and Bruno Fernandes (AMC) orchestrating their possession-based attacks. In their last match against Poland (5-1 win), Leão (LW) and Neto (RW) displayed excellent dribbling, while Ronaldo (FW) showcased his clinical finishing. On defense, Veiga (DC) and A. Silva (DC) are a new pairing but showed signs of instability. However, B. Silva’s (CM) high work rate balances the midfield and disrupts opposition plays. Portugal is expected to exploit Croatia’s defensive vulnerabilities.

• Unavailable Players: None

❌ Analysis
Croatia will aim for a structured game but is likely to face difficulties due to their defensive gaps and reliance on Modrić and Kovačić. Portugal’s pace on the flanks and Ronaldo’s finishing ability may dominate the game. A high-scoring match is expected, with Portugal having the edge.

Poland vs Scotland

❌ Poland

• FIFA Ranking: 31

• Recent 5 Matches: Win-Loss-Loss-Draw-Loss

• Poland favors a 3-5-2 formation with a simple counter-attacking strategy. Against Portugal (1-5 loss), they exposed severe weaknesses in defensive organization and aerial duels. Offensively, Piątek (FW) and Urbański (LW) look for through balls, but apart from Zieliński (CM), creativity in the final third is lacking. Defensively, their back-three—Piatkowski (DC), Bednarek (DC), and Kiwior (DC)—struggles with coordination, often conceding to quick transitions.

• Unavailable Players: None

❌ Scotland

• FIFA Ranking: 51

• Recent 5 Matches: Loss-Loss-Loss-Draw-Win

• Scotland’s 4-3-3 formation emphasizes wing attacks and solid defensive organization. In their last match (1-0 win against Croatia), they capitalized on a late red card to secure a goal. Christie (LW) and Doak (RW) provide pace on the wings, but McTominay (CM)’s lack of creativity often isolates Conway (FW) up front. Defensively, McKenna (DC) and Souttar (DC) are reliable in the air, while McLean (DM) and Gilmour (CM) ensure midfield stability.

• Unavailable Players: None

❌ Analysis
Poland’s predictable attack and fragile defense will struggle against Scotland’s defensive discipline. Scotland, on the other hand, may find it hard to break through Poland’s deep block due to their lack of creativity. A low-scoring draw seems the most likely outcome.

Bulgaria vs Belarus

❌ Bulgaria

• FIFA Ranking: 84

• Recent 5 Matches: Draw-Win-Draw-Loss-Win

• Bulgaria utilizes a 4-2-3-1 formation and relies on quick counter-attacks. Milanov (RW), Krastev (AMC), and Despodov (LW) lead the attack, but Kolev (FW) often finds himself isolated. In their last match against Luxembourg (1-0 win), their offense was one-dimensional, but the defensive duo of Petrov (DC) and Petkov (DC) ensured a narrow victory. Bulgaria’s solid defense can neutralize Belarus’s straightforward attacking patterns.

• Unavailable Players: None

❌ Belarus

• FIFA Ranking: 97

• Recent 5 Matches: Draw-Win-Draw-Draw-Loss

• Belarus adopts a 3-4-2-1 formation, leaning heavily on counter-attacks. Gromyko (AMC) and Borokovsky (AMC) are pivotal in the attack, but Sikavka (FW) suffers from isolation. Against Northern Ireland (0-2 loss), they showed little offensive creativity, and their back-three—Martynovich (DC), Polytevich (DC), and Zabelin (DC)—was solid but prone to fatigue in the latter stages of the game.

• Unavailable Players: None

❌ Analysis
Both teams have struggled with attacking creativity, but Bulgaria’s defense offers them a slight advantage. As Belarus tends to falter in the second half, Bulgaria is likely to secure a narrow win.

Kosovo vs Lithuania

❌ Kosovo

• FIFA Ranking: 101

• Recent 5 Matches: Loss-Loss-Win-Win-Win

• Kosovo operates in a 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing possession through Zhegrova (RW), Muslija (AMC), and Zhešari (LW). In their last (canceled) match against Romania (0-0 draw), they struggled to convert chances due to a lack of precision. Key striker Muriqi (FW) can be a threat with his aerial ability, while Rahmani (DC) and Delova (DC) form a stable defensive duo. However, they lack creativity in the final third.

• Unavailable Player: Pagarada (DF / ★★★★)

❌ Lithuania

• FIFA Ranking: 141

• Recent 5 Matches: Loss-Loss-Loss-Loss-Loss

• Lithuania plays in a 4-5-1 formation, relying on wing play from Dolžnikov (RW) and Lašickas (LW). In their previous match against Cyprus (1-2 loss), they created opportunities but struggled with finishing due to Pauliuska (FW)’s isolation. Defensively, Kaziukolovas (DC) and Žirdaibinis (DC) offer some stability, while Zinetis (DM) prevents heavy defeats. However, the lack of forward momentum hinders their overall effectiveness.

• Unavailable Players: None

❌ Analysis
Kosovo’s strong defensive organization will likely stifle Lithuania’s limited attacking strategies. While neither team is particularly efficient in attack, Kosovo is expected to achieve a straightforward victory.