Croatia vs Portugal – UEFA Nations League – Preview, Team News and Updates

The UEFA Nations League group stage has delivered plenty of drama, but now we’re entering the final act, where teams are battling for those precious knockout round spots. With only one game left, several nations are still in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth. Among them is Croatia, who face an intense showdown on Monday night against Portugal, a team that has already secured their place in the next round.

Croatia have really made life difficult for themselves in the Nations League. After a strong start, racking up six points from their first three games, their momentum has hit a roadblock. A frustrating 1-0 loss to Scotland now leaves them dangerously exposed, with Poland and Scotland hot on their heels, each just three points behind. With only one game left, the Nations League group stage is set for a nail-biting finish. Now, Croatia’s path to qualification isn’t straightforward—they’ll need to pull off a win against the group leaders, Portugal, in their final showdown. 

However, it’s easier said than done. Portugal have been one of the most consistent teams in the tournament so far. In just five games, the Selecao have racked up 13 points, netting 12 goals while allowing only 4. Calling Portugal the favorites might even be an understatement—they’re heavily backed to make a deep run. Yet, there's still one last hurdle as they face Croatia in the group finale. With a quarterfinal spot and the group’s top position already secured, Roberto Martinez may well choose to give his starters a breather. So, can Croatia take advantage of this opportunity, or will a second-string Portugal come out on top? 

Croatia vs Portugal – Match Preview 

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to rewrite the history books. The 39-year-old's hunger for goals is unquenchable, as he scored a brace in Portugal’s 5-1 thrashing of Poland, including a spectacular overhead kick to bring up his 132nd victory on the international stage. This win meant that no other male player has been involved in more wins for their country than Ronaldo, who broke Sergio Ramos’ record of 131 wins. Besides Ronaldo, Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leao rounded off the scoring. Portugal’s victory over Poland rubber-stamped their progression into the quarterfinals as the group winners of League A Group 1. Only fourth-placed Scotland have managed to take points off Portugal. In fact, only one of their last ten Nations League matches have ended in a defeat – that loss came all the way back in 2022, when the Selecao were defeated by Switzerland. Now, their final group game against Croatia is merely a formality. Even if they loss, Portugal will still advance into the knockout rounds as the group winners.  

However, Croatia can’t afford the same luxury. Their topsy-turvy group stage performances have culminated in a must-win tie against Portugal. Two wins, one draw and two losses from five games means that the 2018 World Cup finalist currently occupy the second spot in League A Group 1. Currently, they are three points ahead of Poland and Scotland in the standings, which means that even a draw would be enough for them to qualify into the knockout rounds. Moreover, their job has been made easier, as Roberto Martinez will rest most of his key players because Portugal have already qualified. Zlatko Dalic’s men will be eager to qualify after a lackluster Euro 2024 campaign in which they failed to qualify for the Round of 16. It’s quite evident that Croatia’s “Golden Generation” is on the decline, and this might be their last chance to clinch a major international trophy. 

Croatia vs Portugal – Team News and Updates 

Croatia will be without their playmaker, Petar Sucic, for Monday's clash after he picked up two yellow cards in the recent loss to Scotland. His absence opens the door for either Mario Pasalic or Nikola Vlasic to slot into the lineup. There’s good news for Croatia, though—both Ante Budimir and first-choice keeper Dominik Livakovic are back from suspension. Livakovic will almost certainly reclaim his spot between the sticks from Dominik Kotarski, while Andrej Kramaric is likely to keep his place up front, with Budimir waiting on the sidelines. However, an enforced defensive shuffle might be necessary, as Kristijan Jakic left the Scotland match with an injury. Marin Pongracic could be called upon to fill in at right-back. 

Meanwhile, with Portugal already securing the top spot in their group, coach Roberto Martinez has sent some of his stars—Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, and Bruno Fernandes, who’s suspended anyway—back to their clubs. This is a welcome boost for clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea. 

To fill the gaps, Martinez has brought up Fabio Silva and highly-rated Sporting Lisbon full-back Geovany Quenda from the Under-21 squad, and Tiago Djalo is also expected to feature after narrowly missing out on the Poland game. With plenty of rotation on the cards, we may see the likes of Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo, and Vitinha take the field for Portugal, while Rui Silva and Jose Sa vie for the starting keeper role against Diogo Costa. 

Croatia vs Portugal – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 19th November 2024 (Tuesday) at Poljud Stadium in Split. The match will kick off at 1:15 AM (Indian Standard Time).    

Also Read: Croatia vs Portugal Match Prediction, Fantasy Football Tips and Possible Starting XI