Portugal Rotates Squad Ahead of Croatia Clash in UEFA Nations League

Al Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, will not participate in Portugal‘s Nations League match against Croatia at Stadion Poljud, Split. The decision was part of a broader strategy by the team management to integrate younger players into the squad. Head coach Roberto Martínez emphasizes the importance of competitiveness and adaptability as the team has already secured its place in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

«In the first stage, we made six changes from one game to the next,» Martínez explained, highlighting the strategy of rotating the squad. «It’s important for us to be first, and we already are. We need to be competitive to add to the group as it gets harder to break into the starting eleven. There’s a World Cup finals in 18 months.»

Martínez also stated the necessity of testing other players in the upcoming game. Key players, including Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, and Bruno Fernandes, who is suspended, will also be absent. To fill these gaps, Fábio Silva and Geovany Quenda have been brought into the squad from the Under-21s, offering them a chance to gain international experience.

Despite being 39 years old, Ronaldo has maintained an impressive performance record this year, scoring twice in Portugal’s recent victory over Poland, raising his tally for the season to 15 goals. This achievement also marked his 132nd win for the national team, surpassing former record-holder Sergio Ramos.

As group leaders, Portugal has already qualified for the next stage, whereas Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runners-up, needs at least a draw to secure their advancement. Croatia has shown mixed results recently, with a record of two wins, two losses, and one draw in their last five matches.

Luka Modric remains with the Croatian squad and is expected to play as the team aims to solidify its position in the knockout stages. The match between these two notable European teams promises to be a high-stakes confrontation at the renowned Stadion Poljud.