With Nations League matches waiting in the wings, can World Cup runners-up Croatia get the better off a Ronaldo-less Portugal?
Portugal vs Croatia H2H
The most recent meeting between the two sides happened during Euro 2016 when Portugal eliminated Croatia in the Round of 16 thanks to a Ricardo Quaresma 117th minute extra-time strike. Croatia has actually lost all four games against Portugal and has never scored against this particular opponent.
Thursday night’s friendly at Estadio Do Algarve will be an excellent opportunity to do so, especially with Cristiano Ronaldo out of the equation. The match is set to start at 20:45 CET.
Portugal vs Croatia Preview
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of this fixture, nor will he play in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League League A Group 3 clash with Italy on Tuesday. Juventus’ forward made the decision to stay in Turin in order to better prepare for the upcoming Champions League matches, as well as work on adapting to Allegri’s tactics. It means Goncalo Guedes and Andre Silva are likely to take center stage in the duel versus Croatia, who will not be missing Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric, despite rumors suggesting otherwise.
Both Fernando Santos and Zlatko Dalic are expected to make multiple permutations to their regular starting lineups and give youngsters extended action. Croatia is in Nations League Group 4, along with Spain and England. Spain will be their first opponent, with a match against the Red Fury set for Tuesday. Portugal’s other Group 3 adversary is Poland.
Portugal vs Croatia Odds
Portugal 2.4
Draw 3.1
Croatia 3.1
There have been three or more goals in nine of Portugal’s last eleven competitive fixtures, which bodes well for the 2.4 (7/5) odds for over 2.5 goals paying out.
Portugal vs Croatia Prediction
Post World Cup fixtures are rarely enthusiastic and used by coaches more as an opportunity to see what others can do rather than to beat the opponent. Knowing that, prestige is still definitely on the cards. Dalic’s Croatia will want to prove their World Cup heroics were no fluke, whereas Santos’ Portugal will be eager to get a good result in order to erase the memories of their Round of 16 defeat to Uruguay. A draw appears to be the most realistic scenario.
