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Iceland vs Croatia Live Stream & Predictions – Croatia to Win Bronze at the European Championship

vedran-ostojic
Editor
Last updated: Sat 31 Jan 2026 22:25
In a thrilling bid for the bronze medal at the World Championship, Croatia, last year's silver medalists, showcased strong performances in the Main Round. They face Iceland, a team that has struggled to maintain consistency. Betting odds are favorable for Croatia, also known as the Cowboys, to secure the bronze. The matchup highlights Croatia's steady progress and Iceland's challenge to pull off a balanced performance. Experts recommend betting on Croatia to take home the medal.
Vedran Ostojic 31 Jan 2026
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  • Croatia were victorious against Iceland last week
  • We are backing the Cowboys to upset the favorites
  • Watch Iceland vs Croatia live at the European Championship
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Watch Iceland vs Croatia Live (Getty Images)

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These two teams already met in the Main Round, where Croatia celebrated a narrow 30-29 victory. Not much has changed for either side since then, so I don’t see the Cowboys as such clear underdogs in this bronze-medal clash. 

Iceland Fall Short After an Impressive Run 


Iceland were competitive in their semifinal against Denmark, going toe-to-toe with the reigning World and Olympic champions for more than 40 minutes, but eventually couldn’t keep up with the pace and lost 31-28. Janus Dadi Smarason was outstanding in that game, finishing with eight goals. 

Their second-phase campaign began with a narrow 30-29 defeat to Croatia, followed by a spectacular response and a 35-27 win over heavy favorites Sweden, with Viggo Kristjansson stealing the spotlight by scoring 11 goals. 

Iceland then played out a thrilling 38-38 draw against Switzerland before sealing a semifinal spot by crushing Slovenia 39-31, showcasing their attacking potential but also some defensive inconsistency. 

Croatia Aiming to Bounce Back After Semifinal Setback 


Croatia’s mood is likely lower than Iceland’s after they fell short in the semifinal against Germany, where they struggled to match their opponent’s transition game and deservedly lost 31-28. 

They entered the Main Round with zero points after a heavy 33-25 group-stage defeat to Sweden, but quickly found their rhythm by beating Iceland 30-29, Switzerland 28-24 and Slovenia 29-25 in succession. 

Carried by an excellent goalkeeping display from Kuzmanovic in the decisive Main Round clash, the Cowboys overturned a half-time deficit to beat Hungary 27-25 and book their place in the semifinals. 

Verdict

Croatia claimed a silver medal at last year’s World Championship and looked strong throughout the Main Round, while Iceland struggled to maintain consistency across games. With the odds offering solid value, I’m backing the Cowboys to come out on top and secure the bronze medal. 

Best Bet1: Croatia Win Result @21/10 at Hollywood bets - 2 Units
Croatia Win
Result
@21/10 - 2 Units
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