Croatia vs Portugal: Crucial UEFA Nations League Clash Today

The highly anticipated match between Croatia and Portugal in the UEFA Nations League is set to take place today, Monday, November 18, 2024, at the Estadio Poljud in Split, Croatia. This encounter is part of the final round of the group stage in Group A1 of the competition.

Portugal, led by coach Roberto Martínez, is already assured of a spot in the next phase of the tournament with 13 points and a comfortable lead at the top of the group. However, Croatia, under the guidance of Zlatko Dalic, needs at least a draw to secure their place in the quarterfinals. Croatia currently has seven points and is second in the group, just above Scotland, which has four points and still hopes to qualify.

The match holds significant importance for Croatia, especially after their recent 1-0 loss to Scotland. A failure to qualify for the next phase would be a significant setback for the team, which is the current runner-up in the competition after losing the final to Spain on penalties in the previous edition.

Portugal comes into this match with several key players missing, including Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Nunes, Pedro Gonçalves, Rúben Neves, Diogo Jota, and Gonçalo Ramos, as well as the suspended Bruno Fernandes. Despite these absences, Portugal is expected to field a strong lineup, with Cristiano Ronaldo, who is in contention for the top scorer in the tournament, set to play a crucial role.

Croatia will be without the suspended Petar Sučić and has made several changes to their lineup, including the return of Livakovic in goal and the inclusion of Sosa and Perisic as wing-backs. Luka Modric, at 39 years old, remains a pivotal figure for Croatia, partnering with Kovacic in midfield.

The match will be broadcast live on various platforms, including Izzi TV, SKY Sports, SKY+, and Izzi Go, as well as streaming services like Disney+ and MARCA MX.