In the lead-up to Euro 2024, Croatia secured a 2-1 win over Portugal in a friendly match, signaling their readiness for the upcoming tournament. The game, held at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon, saw Croatia’s captain Luka Modric score a penalty in the 8th minute, which was his 35th goal for the national team. Portugal managed to equalize through Diogo Jota, but Croatia quickly regained the lead with a goal from Ante Budimir, just two minutes later despite Portugal’s attempt to rally back. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s star player, was notably an unused substitute during the match as the team prepares for their campaign in Group F against Czech Republic, Turkey, and Georgia. Croatia, on the other hand, will not be playing any more friendly matches before facing a challenging Group B at the European Championship, which includes Spain, Albania, and Italy. The Croatian team’s performance, particularly the defensive prowess of player Gvardiol and the tactical acumen of coach Dalic, was lauded, with the match being seen as a message to their group opponents, especially Italy. Portugal’s coach Roberto Martínez tested several players, but the team struggled to find a good rhythm. With the European Championship set to start on June 14 in Germany, both teams look to fine-tune their strategies and build on the outcomes of their preparatory matches.
Key points
- Croatia defeated Portugal 2-1 in a friendly match ahead of Euro 2024, with goals from Modric and Budimir.
- Cristiano Ronaldo did not play in the match, as Portugal prepares for their Euro 2024 campaign in Group F.
- Croatia demonstrated strong form ahead of their challenging Group B at the European Championship.
Contradictions👾Article mentions a goal by Pasalic which is not reported in other sources.
👾There are inconsistencies in the match score reporting, with Article incorrectly stating a 1-0 victory for Croatia.
