There is a heavyweight clash on matchday 6 of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League when Croatia hosts Portugal with both sides looking to advance to the next round
This League A Group 1 encounter will be exciting as it bears direct implications at the top of the table.
Portugal have won seven of the last eight games against Croatia, including in the reverse fixture on Matchday 1 when Diogo Dalot and Cristiano Ronaldo scored. That 2-1 victory got the Selecao off to a perfect start in the group and it will also be remembered as the day Ronaldo scored his 900th goal in senior football.
Croatia has a recent history of near-misses in major tournaments but unexpectedly fell short in the first round of Euro 2024 as Mattia Zaccagni’s late goal for Italy in their third game knocked them out of the Group of Death containing champions Spain, Italy, and Albania.
Now that UEFA has expanded the Nations League to include one extra team in the knockout round, a top-two place will be enough for Croatia to go through should they retain their place ahead of Poland and Scotland. A defeat to Spain in the 2023 Nations League final will give them added motivation to finally go all the way.
While qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the primary objective, the Nations League title would be a significant achievement for the Blazers.
On the other hand, Portugal is reeling after crashing out of a Euro 2024 campaign that started in promising fashion but ended in a penalty shootout defeat to France in the quarterfinal.
The 2016 European champions are now focused on winning the Nations League for the second time, and there is a lot of pressure on Roberto Martinez at the helm.
Portugal must pick up the pieces after their fruitless appearance at Euro 2024, having also suffered a last-eight exit at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. It is high time they must realize their distinguished potential.
The Iberians will be aiming to go all the way in a tournament they won back in 2019, and they only missed out on the finals last time out by finishing second to champions Spain. Given the abundance of talent within their ranks, they are expected to find a winning formula or risk wasting ample opportunities.
The ex-Belgium boss is already responsible for failing to get a golden generation over the line and he must get it right with another group of world-class players. Nevertheless, Portugal will be taking it one step at a time and they must target maximum points to reach the quarterfinal as group winners.
Based on their pedigree and the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, it is not out of place that Portugal tickets will be very high in demand.
Match tickets
This UEFA Nations League fixture takes place on Monday, 18 November 2024 with kick-off scheduled for 7:45 PM UK time. Match tickets are available for sale on the UEFA website and the official channels of each national team’s association, it is important to make your reservations early to be considered.
The Poljud Stadium is the venue for this crucial game and the seating capacity of more than 33,000 should be sold out for a match all of Croatia will be keen to watch. The stadium that hosts Hajduk Split’s home matches is the place to be for the final international match of 2024, and supporters are urged to purchase their match tickets early enough.
Traveling fans yet to get theirs can search for Croatia vs Portugal tickets on a resale site.
Team news
Luka Modric continues going strong in Croatia’s squad, swatting away uncertainty over his international future, the 39-year-old’s poise and experience will be vital on this closing night against Portugal.
After team-mates Domagoj Vida and Marcelo Brozovic announced their retirements from international football, the Checkered Ones are pleased to still have the influential midfielder with their manager saying he was “happy that our captain remains on board.”
Meanwhile, Martin Erlic, Josip Stanisic, and Josip Juranovic may not be in the Croatia squad due to injury but Lovro Majer could return after recovering from his ankle injury.
The Portugal boss has brought Geovany Quenda, Renato Veiga, Tomas Araujo, Samu Costa, and Tiago Santos into the squad in recent months while Francisco Trincao and Rui Silva have been recalled. Goncalo Ramos remains unavailable due to injury but expect the side to remain captained by Cristiano Ronaldo up front.
The Al Nassr forward has insisted that he will not retire from international football until he feels he can no longer contribute, and he will be eyeing a silverware-laden exit from the national team.
The supporting cast is spearheaded by Bruno Fernandes who has two goals and as many assists in Portugal’s last seven matches.
Line-ups
More of Croatia’s key players have retired while they have to deal with injury issues in their strongest team. Hence Zlatko Dalic may have to tinker with his side in these crucial games coming up in November.
Croatia: Livakovic; Pongracic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Sosa, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Petkovic
Martinez has a tough job on his hands to select a starting lineup for every single game and he will be utilising his most experienced side to take on the savvy Croatians.
Fernandes will have a key role on the night with his creativity and dynamism in attacking areas, while Joao Palhinha and Vitinha or Bernardo Silva will help to balance out the middle of the park. Portugal have fielded two pacy wingers on either side of Ronaldo and Pedro Neto could be deployed on the opposite side of Rafael Leao.
Portugal: Costa; Dalot, Dias, Silva, Mendes; Palhinha, Fernandes, Silva; Leao, Neto, Ronaldo
Prediction
There is likely to be little to choose from between these teams although Portugal should be expected to win considering Croatia’s ageing side will struggle against one of the best teams in Europe.
Portugal’s quality and pace should see them create plenty of opportunities and the hosts will look to punish them on the break. There have been 16 goals scored in the past four games between these two sides, with 10 of those coming in the second half of the matches.
This game could go down to the wire and the top spot in Group 1 could be decided in the late stages. Croatia 1-3 Portugal