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Sweden vs Croatia Live Stream & Predictions – Cowboys Underestimated at the European Championship

vedran-ostojic
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Last updated: Tue 20 Jan 2026 18:27
Croatia showcased remarkable performance at the World Championship 2025, capturing the silver medal and demonstrating a noticeable upward trend in form over recent weeks. Looking forward, as both teams are already qualified, Wednesday's match is expected to be a closely contested one. It's recommended to back the Cowboys to cover a +3.5 handicap, considering Croatia's growing confidence.
Vedran Ostojic 20 Jan 2026
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  • Both sides collected four points after two rounds
  • We are predicting tight battle in Malmo
  • Watch Sweden vs Croatia live at the European Championship
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Watch Sweden vs Croatia Live (Getty Images)

Match Preview 


Both teams have won their opening two matches at the European Championship 2026. Sweden have been slightly more convincing overall, but Croatia showed major improvement in their latest outing against the Netherlands two days ago. I believe the Cowboys can seriously test one of the co-hosts here, so backing Croatia to win in a +3.5 handicap looks like solid value. 

Sweden Looking to Carry Momentum Forward 


Sweden secured two victories in their first two European Championship 2026 appearances and have already clinched a place in the Main Round, but they remain focused on advancing with as many points as possible. 

The Swedes opened the tournament with a 36–31 victory over the Netherlands in front of their home crowd in Malmö. Felix Claar was named man of the match after scoring eight goals in a controlled attacking display. 

They encountered no issues in the follow-up clash against tournament minnows Georgia, cruising to a 38–29 win, again in Malmö. Nikola Roganovic stole the spotlight on this occasion, contributing six goals and three assists. 

Croatia Finding Their Rhythm 


Like their upcoming opponents, Croatia also boast a perfect record after two rounds at EURO 2026. Carrying points into the next phase would represent a significant step toward a potential semifinal run. 

Despite entering their opener as heavy favorites, the Cowboys were far from convincing defensively, edging past Georgia 32–29. Mario Sostaric carried the offensive load with nine goals, though Croatia allowed too many high-quality chances at the other end. 

Defensive stability and overall performance improved notably in the second round against a tougher Netherlands side, where Croatia controlled large portions of the game and secured a convincing 35–29 victory. 

Verdict

Croatia impressed at the World Championship 2025, where they captured a silver medal, and their form has clearly been trending upward over the past couple of weeks. With both teams already qualified and Croatia growing in confidence, a tight contest is expected on Wednesday. Backing the Cowboys to cover a +3.5 handicap looks like the right play. 

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21 Jan 2026

Sweden v Croatia