September 5, 2024 – Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the Nations League opener in Lisbon on Thursday.
The Croatia national team played the first match of this Nations League season against Portugal at the Benfica stadium in Lisbon. Last season in the Nations League, Croatia reached the final, where they lost to Spain on penalties.
Croatia is in a delicate situation heading into this campaign – weakened by injuries, coming off a poor tournament in Germany, new retirements, and a generational change. Coach Zlatko Dalić did not have much time to work with his new starting 11, and Croatia kicked off a new era in a competition in which every point matters.
Lineups
Croatia: Livaković – Šutalo, Pongracić, Gvardiol – Jakić, Modrić, Kovačić, Sosa – Baturina – Pašalić, Kramarić
Portugal: Diogo Costa – Dalot, Rúben Dias, Inácio, Nuno Mendes – Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto – Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão, Ronaldo
Match report
It was a shaky start for Croatia with Bruno Fernandes getting a shot already in the 6th minute, which Livakovic saved. A minute later, Dalot found the back of the net for Portugal as Croatia’s defense struggled to work with the new formation. It was 1-0 for Portugal.
Croatia had their first corner in the 11th minute which Portugal knocked out for a quick counter. Livakovic came out from the penalty area to defend.
Modric hit the side netting in the 14th minute and Croatia started with their attacking game. Kramaric shot wide and had another chance which went out for a corner.
In the 34th minute, Portugal made it 2-0 with a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo, the 900th of his career.
But not all hope was lost, and just seven minutes later, Sosa’s shot was deflected by Dalot and went into the goal for 2-1!
Portugal hit the crossbar with a minute to go in the first half, which ended 2-1.
Dalic started the second half with Caleta-Car in for Pograncic.
Pasalic forced Croatia’s first corner of the second half in the 49th minute, which was saved by Costa.
There were some scary moments for Croatia in the first 15 minutes of the second half, with Livakovic having to dish out a few stellar saves. Dalic subbed off Baturina for Matanovic in the 61st minute and Pasalic came off for Luka Sucic in the 68th.
Dalic subbed off Modric for Petar Sucic and Jakic for Perisic in the 76th minute.
With Matanovic in the game, Croatia had a new target. He shot just wide after a perfect Sucic cross into the box, and had another chance with his head off Perisic’s ball in.
Sucic launched the ball to the far post in the 89th minute, but Kramaric hit the side of the goal. Four minutes of injury time were added – and Croatia was pressing.
Croatia was not able to equalize, though they had many chances to finish the game. The match ended 2-1 for Portugal.
Croatia and Poland meet next on Sunday in Osijek!
