Portugal vs Croatia: UEFA Nations League Clash Preview
History and Head-to-Head
Portugal and Croatia have a long and storied rivalry in international football, dating back to their first meeting in 1999. The two nations have met 6 times overall, with Portugal holding a slight edge with 3 wins to Croatia's 2. The most recent encounter between the two teams was a friendly match in 2018, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
In major tournaments, Portugal and Croatia have met twice, once in the group stage of the 2016 European Championship and once in the round of 16 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Portugal won both matches, 1-0 and 2-1 respectively.
Key Players
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly Portugal's key player. The 37-year-old forward is one of the greatest players of all time and is still going strong for both club and country. Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time leading scorer with 117 goals in 191 appearances.
For Croatia, Luka Modric is the key man. The 36-year-old midfielder is one of the best in the world and is the current Ballon d'Or holder. Modric is the heartbeat of the Croatian team and his creativity and vision will be vital if they are to get a result against Portugal.
Team News
Portugal will be without a number of key players for the match against Croatia, including Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, and Renato Sanches. However, they will be boosted by the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the 1-0 win over Switzerland through suspension.
Croatia will also be without a number of key players, including Marcelo Brozovic, Ivan Perisic, and Mateo Kovacic. However, they will be buoyed by the return of Luka Modric, who missed the 1-0 win over Denmark through injury.
What to Expect
The match between Portugal and Croatia is likely to be a close and competitive affair. Both teams have a number of quality players and will be looking to get a positive result. Portugal will be slight favorites, but Croatia will be no pushovers and will be looking to cause an upset.
In terms of tactics, Portugal is likely to play a 4-3-3 formation with Ronaldo leading the line. Croatia is likely to play a 4-2-3-1 formation with Modric playing in the number 10 role behind the striker.
The match is likely to be decided by the individual brilliance of Ronaldo and Modric. Both players are capable of moments of magic and will be looking to inspire their teams to victory.
Prediction
Portugal is the slight favorite to win the match, but Croatia is capable of causing an upset. A close and competitive match is expected, with both teams having a chance to win.
Prediction: Portugal 2-1 Croatia
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