• Wales have won none of their seven previous matches against Croatia (three draws, four defeats), drawing 1-1 in this European Championship qualifying campaign.
• Croatia are unbeaten in their two previous away games against Wales, winning a World Cup qualifier 2-1 in March 2013 and drawing 1-1 in October 2019 in a Euros qualifier.
• Wales lost their last home qualifying game 2-4 against Armenia. They have not lost back-to-back such matches since September 2013 (against Croatia and Serbia in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup), while they last lost consecutive home matches in a European Championship qualifying campaign in March 2011 (against Bulgaria and England).
• Croatia have won each of their past five away qualifying matches for major tournaments by an aggregate score of 14-1 - their longest winning run in away qualifying matches.
• Wales have won their past two matches in all competitions, winning 2-0 against Latvia in a European Championship qualifier and 4-0 against Gibraltar in a friendly. They have not won three games in a row since a run of four between November 2019 and September 2020.
• Croatia had 17 shots against Turkey last time out, their highest total in a game without scoring since a 1-0 loss to Portugal at Euro 2016 (also 17). The last time they failed to score in back-to-back qualifying matches was in September 2015.
• Three of Wales' four goals in their victory over Gibraltar were headed goals, one scored by Ben Davies and two by Kieffer Moore. Eight of Moore's 12 Wales goals have been headers, accounting for 53% of their headed goals since Moore's debut in September 2019 (eight out of 15).
• Daniel James assisted two goals in Wales' 4-0 win over Gibraltar, with six of his eight assists for the national team coming for goals scored by Kieffer Moore. Across club and country for Leeds and Wales, James has assisted six goals in his past eight appearances.

Image source, Getty Images

Iwan Roberts
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Cymru

They weren't expecting to go into their final three games in second place.

There's a reason the manager has made three changes (from the Turkey loss).

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

I've been speaking to a few Croatian journalists and there are some concerns about tonight's match.

That may come as a surprise when you consider Croatia reached the semi-finals of last year's World Cup and started this Euro 2024 qualifying campaign as overwhelming favourites to win Group D.

But they've been hit by a number of injuries to important players, particularly in attack with Bruno Petkovic, Ivan Perisic, Mislav Orsic and Andre Kramaric all ruled out.

Add to that a shock defeat at home to Turkey on Thursday and Croatia come into this game with their confidence a little shaken.

If they lose tonight, Croatia's qualification hopes would be out of their hands. Nobody would have predicted that at the start of this campaign.

Kath Morgan
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru

The problems we had came from the two games in June (defeats to Armenia and Turkey).

It would be hard enough anyway to get a point tonight, so Turkey's win [against Croatia] has really hurt us.

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

It's not really in our hands now, but you're going to have to take points off Turkey and against Croatia tonight.

I think Turkey will get a result against Latvia tonight.

I think it's a huge struggle, but we live in hope, that's all we can do at the moment.

There is a certain sense of history repeating about Wales' bid to qualify for Euro 2024.

Rewind four years to the most recent European Championship, and the story of Wales' qualifying campaign reads like a template for the current edition.

There was a promising start, a dismal summer with back-to-back defeats and then a recovery in the autumn to set up a grandstand finish. For 2019, you could read 2023.

"We've mentioned it ourselves," Wales manager Robert Page says of the similarities.

"Is it four years? That's gone quickly. There was a difficult June. That's when I stepped up and that [level of performance] is what we want now.

"The players have been in pressurised situations and they were here four years ago, so that will help of course, having gone through those experiences. It's all about the win."

The Euro 2020 qualifying campaign was Page's first as part of then manager Ryan Giggs' coaching staff, as he stepped up from the under-21s after defeats by Croatia and Hungary in June 2019 left hopes of qualification hanging in the balance.

In October that year, Wales earned a valuable 1-1 draw at home to group favourites Croatia, before wins over Azerbaijan and Hungary in November sealed qualification.

Croatia return tonight Wales walking a tightrope.

Page's side are fourth in Group D and, after Croatia lost at home to Turkey on Thursday, Wales realistically need to win this evening and then see off Armenia and Turkey next month to qualify for Euro 2024.

It is a taller order than 2019 - needing to finish with three successive wins, rather than two - but their route to Euro 2020 could be a source of inspiration.

Four years ago, Gareth Bale scored the equaliser against Croatia and, after goals by Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson secured victory in Azerbaijan, Aaron Ramsey struck twice in the decider with Hungary to clinch qualification.

This time, neither Bale nor Ramsey are around. Bale is nine months into retirement, while Ramsey will miss Wales' final three qualifiers with a knee injury.

But there are plenty of players from the 2019 vintage who remain. In fact, seven of the 11 who started in the win over Hungary are in the squad tonight.

They include defender Ben Davies, who will captain Wales in Ramsey's absence.

"Last time, we had two matches at the end where we had to win and we did it," Davies says.

"People don't tend to remember how you get there - the most important thing is that you get there.

"It will be difficult. We know we're not in a situation we want to be in but we still have a chance.

"These are massive games coming up and we need to go into them ready to battle and win them all."

Image source, Getty Images

Back to tonight, when Charlie Savage will be hoping to make a first competitive appearance at international level having endured a "dream" Wales debut in midweek.

Savage, 20, impressed in the 4-0 win over Gibraltar last Wednesday, with his father, ex-Wales midfielder Robbie, in the stands.

He was scheduled to join the under-21 squad after that game but instead stayed with the senior group, along with defender Joe Low, and both youngsters are on the bench tonight.

The friendly victory against Gibraltar was played in Wrexham, where Robbie was born and raised.

"For me to be here with his grandma and his family was amazing," the former Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers midfielder told BBC Radio Wales after watching his son's debut.

"He deserves it. League One is different, but tonight was the perfect game for him, utilising his passing, and he was magnificent.

"His grandma lives in Wrexham, I was brought up here and it's the first time she's really been out of the house because of Covid and a hip operation. His grandad would have loved to be here."

Read more: Charlie Savage stays with Wales squad after 'dream' debut against Gibraltar

Image source, FAW

This game has not been the only topic of conversation in Welsh football this week.

Euro 2028 games are coming to Wales, with Uefa vice-president Laura McAllister hoping that will leave a lasting legacy in Welsh football.

Wales will co-host a major football finals for the first time after Uefa confirmed the UK and Ireland as hosts.

McAllister, appointed to Uefa's executive committee in April, was in Nyon for the announcement earlier this week.

"It's very much a tournament that we hope we'll share the benefits of across the nation," she said.

"It's really pleasing I think that one of the most important and central legacies is around grassroots, making sure there's something really substantial left once the Euro 2028 show rolls out of town again.

"Because this can't just be about that period of a couple of months, it's got to be about lasting influence and lasting benefits for all the young boys and girls across Wales."

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney says hosting and qualifying for Euro 2028 will benefit the Welsh game by about £10m.

Read more: Uefa Vice-president Laura McAllister hopes for lasting Euro 2028 legacy

Iwan Roberts
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Cymru

That kind of speculation [over the manager's future] can bring everyone together.

It can make it 'us against the world'.

A draw or defeat tonight would effectively end Wales' hopes of qualifying automatically before their final two group games against Armenia and Turkey next month.

If Wales miss out on the top two, their only potential route to Euro 2024 would be the play-offs in March.

As we have mentioned, a disappointing campaign so far has put manager Robert Page under pressure, with criticism from fans and pundits, particularly fierce after June's back-to-back defeats by Armenia and Turkey.

Football Association of Wales boss Noel Mooney has said the governing body will not make any “knee-jerk” decisions over Page's future, but added the team must keep winning games.

Captain Ben Davies has described those comments as "not helpful", while Page says he is ignoring the "noise" of speculation about his future.

Image source, Getty Images

Chief executive Noel Mooney says the Football Association of Wales will not make any “knee-jerk” decisions over the future of manager Robert Page - but insists the team must keep moving forwards.

Page has come under scrutiny after a difficult qualifying campaign for Euro 2024.

Before the key game against Croatia in Cardiff tonight, Mooney says Wales must keep winning matches.

Manager Robert Page insisted in his pre-match press conference that speculation about his future will not affect him as Wales aim to qualify for Euro 2024.

Page has been under pressure during a disappointing qualifying campaign which leaves his side fourth in Group D with three games to play.

"We've got to ignore all the noise," said the 49-year-old.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has reportedly been targeting potential successors, but an emotional Page said his only focus was tonight's game.

"It is noise and that's it, so we try to protect the players as much as we can," added Page.

"I have not spoken to the chief executive [of the FAW, Noel Mooney] so it is speculation. I have not spoken to him at all about it, so I could not tell you whether it is true or not.

"All I have to focus on is [that] before the World Cup I signed a four-year deal and the long-term plan for me is to start introducing young players into the group.

"We are in a transition period and we have said this time and time again. We are losing big players like Joe Allen and Gareth Bale. Not just for what they bring us on the pitch, but also the value they add in the changing room.

"We've seen the talent we've got coming through. We're developing these young players and it's going to take time.

"I get the frustration. We want to win games of football, but there's got to be a bit of perspective. I'm doing what's best for the FAW, not myself."

His assistant coaches Alan Knill, Tony Roberts and Ian Mitchell took the unusual step of joining Page for his pre-match press briefing, standing at the back of the room in an apparent show of unity.

Read more: Emotional Wales boss blocks out speculation about future

Wales host Croatia in a match they must win to have a realistic chance of qualifying for Euro 2024.

Wales are fourth in Group D with three games left, three points behind World Cup semi-finalists Croatia in second.

With only the top two teams qualifying automatically, Wales need to win all three of their matches or hope leaders Turkey or Croatia drop points.

"We know what's required of us, what we have to do," said Ben Davies, Wales captain in Aaron Ramsey's absence.

"We knew what we were coming into before this camp. We all knew that three wins was what we were targeting so from our standpoint it hasn't changed.

"So three big games and it starts with a tough one against Croatia. They're a world-class team, they've shown that for a long time now with a lot of the same players.

"But that doesn't mean they're unbeatable. We have to show them a lot of respect for the quality they've got, but we have to go in believing we can get a result and we've been working all week building up to that."

If Wales win all three of their remaining games, though, they would finish on 16 points and above Croatia because of a superior head-to-head record, having drawn 1-1 with tonight's opponents in Split in March.

Image source, Getty Images

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

I think we need to go and get the win. We need to win all three games, for me.

That result, Turkey in Croatia, it was well deserved.

There's so much going on, but from Wales's point of view, you just have to focus on trying to win tonight.

The bright minds at BBC Sport HQ in Salford have got their abacuses out and worked out exactly who needs what from each group in Euro 2024 qualifying.

England and Scotland lead the home nations' charge, with both sides able to seal their spot at the finals in Germany during the latest round of fixtures.

Scotland top Group A, while England are first in Group C. Wales are still in the hunt, but for Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, hopes of qualifying from their respective groups are over.

Two teams qualify from each group, filling 20 of the 24 spaces in next summer's tournament.

Hosts Germany qualify automatically, while the other three spots are decided via play-offs, with 12 participating teams determined by their performance in the 2022-23 Nations League.

On Friday, Belgium, France and Portugal became the first three countries to advance through the qualifying phase.

Euro 2024: How do the tables stand and who needs what to qualify?

Image source, Getty Images

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Croatia make three changes following Thursday’s surprising 1-0 defeat at home to Turkey.

Josip Juranovic, Domagoj Vida and Lovro Majer replace Josip Stanisic, Josip Sutalo and Mario Pasalic.

Croatia have a long list of injuries, particularly in attacking positions. Forwards Bruno Petkovic, Mislav Orsic and Andre Kramaric are all ruled out, as is Spurs winger Ivan Perisic.

But that is still a strong line-up. Just look at that midfield. Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic.

Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Vida, Gvardiol, Barisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Majer, Brekalo, Musa.

Subs: Labrovic, Ivusic, Stanisic, Erlic, Sutalo, Vlasic, Pasalic, Moro, Sosa, Beljo

Image source, Getty Images

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Wales revert to their strongest available line-up having made wholesale changes for Wednesday’s 4-0 friendly win over Gibraltar.

The only two players missing from last month’s most recent competitive outing – a 2-0 win in Latvia – are captain Aaron Ramsey and forward Brennan Johnson, who are injured.

Ben Davies leads the team in Ramsey’s absence, with David Brooks and Kieffer Moore returning from injury and suspension respectively to start.

Wales: Ward; Mepham, Rodon, B. Davies; Roberts, Ampadu, J. James, Williams; Wilson, Brooks, Moore.

Subs: Hennessey, King, Lockyer, Low, Poole, Levitt, Sheehan, Savage, D. James, Cullen, Broadhead, Bradshaw.

Image source, FAW

Image source, FAW

Good evening and welcome to Cardiff for tonight's Euro 2024 qualifier between Wales and Croatia.

Croatia are formidable opponents having reached at least the last four in the past two World Cups.

But the pressure is on Wales to deliver this evening, as the group table essentially makes this a must-win game for Robert Page's side.

Anything other than a victory is likely to end Wales' hopes of qualifying from Group D and would mean attention turning to a potential play-off.

The pressure is mounting on Wales boss Page, despite a thumping midweek friendly win over Gibraltar.

So the stage is set as Wales welcome Luka Modric and company knowing they need a famous win tonight.

Let's start by having a look at those teams, shall we?