Portugal vs Croatia Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League | League A Group 1
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League A of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League kicks off this week and we have the first meeting of two European football giants as Portugal, under the management of Roberto Martinez, take on a Croatia side that have not quite moved into a new era.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TBC / US – FOX Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – TBC / US – FOX Sports streaming platforms
PORTUGAL PREVIEW: TO MOVE OR NOT
Once again, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in their squad. Roberto Martinez refused to drop him despite poor performances during UEFA EURO 2024 and he does look set to try and make it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
They reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA European Championships after edging past Slovenia on penalties in the Round of 16, which had followed a defeat to Georgia in the groups but then played out a truly awful goalless draw against France before losing the shootout.
CROATIA PREVIEW: TO MOVE ON OR NOT
Zlatko Dalic remains in charge of the Croats and, like their upcoming opponents, have not moved on from their experienced and legendary captain, Luka Modric, despite poor performances at UEFA EURO 2024 and his struggle for minutes at Real Madrid.
They were knocked out in the group stages of the competition after conceding a last-gasp equaliser to Italy in their final group game, which ended their hopes of progression into the knockout stages following a defeat to Spain and draw with Albania.
PORTUGAL TEAM NEWS: CR7 TO GET THE NOD
The likelihood is that, in what is the marquee home fixture of their UEFA Nations League campaign, 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo continues to start for Roberto Martinez with very little likely to change from their UEFA EURO 2024 campaign.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Costa; Diogo Dalot, Dias, Inacio, Mendes; Joao Palhinha, Neves; Silva, Fernandes, Joao Felix; Cristiano Ronaldo
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
CROATIA TEAM NEWS: EXPERIENCE OF CROATIA
Ivan Perisic has been named vice-captain and the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Dominik Livakovic remain in what is a very experienced Croatia squad. Andrej Kramaric will lead the line after a strong start to the Bundesliga season for Hoffenheim, scoring four goals in two games.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Livakovic; Pongracic, Caleta-Car, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Modric, Pasalic; Kramaric, Budimir, Ivanusec
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
PORTUGAL VS CROATIA PREDICTION
Portugal have the ability to put on genuinely slick and supreme performances but the pressure is very much on Roberto Martinez with this whole calendar year being underwhelming after what was a bright start in 2023. Croatia are very much still stuck in the same mould and there would be a question mark over their youth setups if players aren’t even being given a chance in the UEFA Nations League so a Portuguese win, with home advantage, seems likely.
PORTUGAL VS CROATIA TIP: PORTUGAL TO WIN
