Portugal will clash with a feisty Croatia side in this Round of 32 fixture on July 3 at Toronto Stadium in Canada. Former Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric will lead their nations in this knockout battle between two European heavyweights.
For the game, here we present our preview and prediction.
Portugal have had a mixed bag of a campaign thus far. Even with a strong squad, they haven’t really clicked into gear yet. With two draws and a big win against Uzbekistan, Portugal managed to secure qualification, but question marks remain over their performances against big teams. Their over-reliance on an ageing Ronaldo for goals is a massive problem that they haven’t been able to solve.
As for their opponents, Croatia began their World Cup campaign with a huge 4–2 defeat against England. They fought to come back twice in the first half, keeping the scoreline 2–2, but they let England take the lead a third time and run away with it. Their other two games were crucial wins against Panama and Ghana, which helped them book their place in the round of 32.
In terms of injuries, neither camp has been hit by major issues and will have complete squads at their disposal.
Croatia were finalists in the 2018 World Cup and semi-finalists in 2022, having over-achieved with a relatively limited squad. All their key players from those editions are no longer in their prime and have slowed down considerably. Despite their limitations, though, Croatia have managed to reach the knockouts.
Portugal, meanwhile, have been unbeaten throughout the group stage, which is a positive sign, but they need to step up now. Croatia are a resilient side who don’t give up and can definitely threaten them, with Ante Budimir and Petar Sucic leading their line. Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha will be key for Portugal in this game, and how they link up with Ronaldo up front will make all the difference.
We believe this could be another intense affair. Neither side will want to spare an inch, as that could soon spell trouble. On paper, Portugal have the stronger squad, and with Ronaldo possibly playing his last World Cup, they will be desperate to win it for him. We expect a narrow win for Roberto Martínez’s men.
Score Prediction: Portugal 2–1 Croatia
Venue: Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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