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

The UEFA Nations League is back tonight, and it's kicking off with a blockbuster match between Portugal and Croatia. If you are on the lookout for some top-tier football action, this is the game to watch.

Both Portugal and Croatia are expected to fill out the top two spots of League 1 Group A. Both the nations possess some of the best players in the world, and anything other than progression to the next round will be viewed as failure. Portugal, especially, have their eyes on the prize—they made history by winning the inaugural Nations League in 2019, and they're looking to reclaim their crown.  

Their opponents of the night are no slouches either, as Croatia themselves advanced to the final of the 2022-23 Nations League, where they were defeated by Spain on penalties. With the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol in their squad, Croatia are once again favorites to reach the later stages of the tournament. Fans can expect nothing less than a thrilling contest as these two giants clash. 

Portugal vs Croatia – Match Preview 

After a disappointing run at Euro 2024, where they were knocked out by France in the quarterfinals, Portugal are eager to bounce back in the UEFA Nations League. But it won't be easy. The Iberian giants will be without their defensive anchor, Pepe, who retired from football at the age of 41 following Portugal's Euros exit. Replacing Pepe's vast international experience and defensive brilliance is no small task for head coach Roberto Martinez. 

Fortunately for Portugal, their iconic talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is still leading the charge. At 39, CR7 shows no signs of slowing down, and he’ll be captaining Portugal in their upcoming home fixtures against Croatia and Scotland. Martinez and his squad have their sights set on reclaiming the Nations League trophy they first won in 2019. But standing in their way is Croatia, last season’s runners-up. 

Over the past 15 years, Croatia have evolved into a formidable force in both European and world football. Their journey to the 2018 World Cup final was followed by a strong semifinal run in 2022, which included a thrilling quarterfinal victory over Brazil. They kept the momentum going by reaching the Nations League final, though they fell short against Spain in a penalty shootout. Zlatko Dalic has done a stellar job guiding Croatia, but after a lackluster 2024 Euros where they crashed out in the group stage, the pressure is on to finally secure some silverware. With UEFA’s addition of a quarterfinal round in the Nations League, Croatia’s path to advancing is a bit smoother, especially as they, along with Portugal, are the frontrunners in their group to advance into the next round. 

Portugal vs Croatia – Team News and Updates 

Croatia are dealing with their own absences. Long-time stalwarts Domagoj Vida and Marcelo Brozovic are out—Brozovic, in particular, recently called time on his international career just shy of 100 caps. Furthermore, Lovro Majer, Josip Stanisic, and Martin Erlic are all sidelined for both the match against Portugal and the upcoming clash with Poland.  

Additionally, Lyon defender Duje Caleta-Car is a doubt after picking up a knock last weekend. Ivan Perisic, despite being without a club after leaving Hajduk Split, has been included in the squad. With the defensive options looking thin, head coach Zlatko Dalic has hinted that players like Marin Pongracic, Kristijan Jakic, or even winger Marko Pjaca might need to step in at right-back. 

On the other hand, Roberto Martinez is shaking things up with his latest Portugal squad, bringing in fresh faces like Geovany Quenda, Renato Veiga, and Tiago Santos for their first senior call-ups. The young Sporting winger Quenda, just 17, has only four senior appearances to his name, while Veiga is settling in at Chelsea and Lille full-back Santos is eyeing a potential debut for the Selecao. Meanwhile, some familiar names have been left out, as Martinez has opted to drop Joao Cancelo, Danilo Pereira, and Francisco Conceicao. There are also recalls for Pedro Goncalves, Francisco Trincao, and goalkeeper Rui Silva. Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo will lead the squad as captain, and he’s expected to start up front once again. 

Portugal vs Croatia – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 6th September 2024 (Friday) at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. The match will kick off at 12:15 AM (Indian Standard Time).    

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