Portugal vs Croatia: Preview, Prediction, Lineups and Team News | Nations League

Date – 5th September 2024
Time – 19:45 GMT
Venue – Estadio da Luz, Lisbon

Preview – Portugal vs Croatia

Portugal and Croatia resume their post Euro 2024 journeys as they take on each other in a UEFA Nations League Group game. Both sides would be disappointed with their performance in the continental showpiece event and would be eager to improve ahead of World Cup 2026.

Portugal are presently 8th in the world and while golden generation shouts are over the top, they possess one of the most talented squads in the world presently. The onus is on Roberto Martinez to get the best out of them.

Croatia are seemingly caught between eras. The younger generation doesn’t seem to have the quality of their highly successful outgoing generation but time has come for them to take over the mantle. They are ranked 12th in the world.

Portugal Team news

Like Croatia, Portugal too seem to be caught in between eras. 39 year old Cristiano Ronaldo has still made the cut despite speculation over his potential retirement. Instead, expect him to start against Croatia. Also watch out for PSG’s midfield duo of Joao Neves and Vitinha, who have started the season on fire. Portugal are playing at home and will be expected to win this one. They also lead the head-2-head 4 to 1.

Croatia Team news

Luka Modric has once again made the squad at 38 years old and is expected to be the cornerstone of the team. In form Mateo Kovacic will take up the spot beside him in midfield. Up front, Andrej Kramaric has begun the season on fire and he is expected to start. Croatia might be losing the head-to-head but they won the most recent encounter between the two sides back in June. They have enough tools to hurt the home side.

Predicted XIs

Portugal possible starting lineup:
Costa; Dalot, Dias, A. Silva, Mendes; Palhinha, Vitinha; B. Silva, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo

Croatia possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Pongracic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, L. Sucic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Ivanusec

Prediction

While both these sides had fairly underwhelming European Championships, matches between them in recent times have been full of action with 13 goals in theit last three encounters.
Portugal, in particular, will be looking to unleash their attacking power on home soil against a Croatia side that are in a bit of a transitionary period at the moment. Our prediction is that Portugal win 3-1.

Head to head

Portugal lead the head to head 4 to 1 but Croatia’s win had come in the most recent encounter in June.

Key players

Portugal

Bruno Fernandes – The Manchester United captain is undoubtedly the star man for Portugal now. Bruno runs things for Portugal, creating chance after chance and scoring important goals. Although they have a lot of talent in midfield, the team is built around him presently.

Croatia

Mateo Kovacic- Although Luka Modric will undoubtedly take the headlines, it is Mateo Kovacic who is the form player for Croatia in midfield. He has had a brilliant start to the season with Manchester City, and is making sure that his club side aren’t missing Rodri. He will have to do something similar for Croatia given that Marcelo Brozovic has now retired.

Betting odds

A victory for Portugal has the odds of @1.60 on 1xBet. Other popular bets include Bernardo Silva to score @4.33 and over 2.5 goals in the match @1.96 on the same platform.