Croatia vs France prediction and betting tips - January 21, 2026
Croatia
France
On January 21, the UEFA Futsal Euro kicks off, and the opening match at the arena in Riga will see Croatia take on France. Here’s my take on the best bet for this upcoming showdown.
Croatia
The Croatian national team breezed through Euro qualification, winning all six of their group matches. They faced off against the likes of Greece, Sweden, and Azerbaijan. What stood out was their impressive attacking prowess—averaging nearly five goals per game.
Croatia’s best-ever Euro result was reaching the semifinals in 2012, where they lost the third-place match to Italy 1-3. I don't expect them to mount a title challenge, but making it to the playoffs looks like a realistic target.
France
France also looked solid in qualification, notching up five wins and a draw to top their group. Their main rivals were Georgia, whom they finished three points ahead of. The French were the most prolific team in all of qualifying, racking up 41 goals—almost seven per match on average.
Traditionally, France hasn’t been a standout at the Euros—they have never won a title or even reached the semifinals before. However, it’s worth mentioning their strong run at the last championship in 2024, when they did reach the semifinals and ultimately finished fourth after a 1-7 defeat to Ukraine in the third-place match.
Head-to-head
France have the upper hand in recent encounters, winning four of the last five meetings between these sides. Their most recent clashes came in 2023 during World Cup qualification—France triumphed 2-1 away and celebrated a 5-2 win at home.
Prediction
Initially, bookmakers gave both teams equal odds, but France have since emerged as slight favorites. I expect an exciting clash between two sides determined to make the playoffs. The opener is always crucial, and I believe both teams will put on an attacking display. My pick: over 5.5 total goals scored looks like a strong bet.
