Portugal vs Croatia – Match preview and team news

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The Football Faithful

2 July 2026

Toronto Stadium hosts an all-European

World Cup

last 32 clash in the early hours of Friday morning as

Portugal

and

Croatia

meet for the first time in the competition’s history, with a round of 16 tie against Spain or Austria awaiting the winner.

Both sides finished as group runners-up —

second in Group K behind Colombia,

second in Group L behind England. Neither came through the group stage with their reputation entirely intact, but both carry the kind of knockout experience that makes them dangerous regardless of form.

Portugal have won seven of their ten previous meetings with

. They beat them in the round of 16 at Euro 2016 on their way to winning the tournament. History points one way — but

have made a habit of defying it.

Roberto Martinez has no injury concerns and a full squad available. Joao Neves returns to the starting lineup after being rested against Colombia, slotting into central midfield alongside Vitinha. Bruno Fernandes operates in the number ten role behind the front three, with Pedro Neto and Joao Felix providing support for Ronaldo.

Nuno Mendes and Joao Cancelo continue in the full-back positions, with Ruben Dias and Renato Veiga at centre-back. Diogo Costa starts in goal. Ronaldo, 40 years old and the tournament’s oldest outfield player, is yet to score or assist in a

knockout match across his entire career — the defining statistic surrounding his participation here.

Zlatko Dalic has no fresh injury concerns following the 2-1 win over Ghana. The significant change is Josko Gvardiol’s return at left-back, which moves Ivan Perisic further forward into the attack. Luka Modric, who became the oldest player to register a

assist when he set up Vlasic’s winner against Ghana, anchors midfield alongside Mateo Kovacic.

Petar Sucic completes the trio after scoring against Ghana. Martin Baturina operates in the attacking midfield line behind Ante Budimir, with Josip Stanisic, Josip Sutalo and Marin Pongracic continuing in defence.

Martinez’s group stage produced one emphatic result and two flat ones. The 5-0 dismantling of Uzbekistan was clinical and commanding — Ronaldo scoring twice, declaring “I’m back” afterwards.

That was sandwiched by a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, in which

registered just 0.65 xG against a side they were expected to beat comfortably, and a goalless draw with Colombia, where they faced 24 shots and managed only 13.

are unbeaten in eight matches since losing to Ireland in

qualifying, but their group-stage inconsistency hands

genuine reason for belief.

Dalic’s side opened with a 4-2 defeat to England that exposed their defensive vulnerabilities in transition. They recovered emphatically. A disciplined 1-0 win over Panama was followed by the 2-1 victory over Ghana, where Modric’s corner produced Vlasic’s late winner.

have won 11 of their last 16 matches in all competitions.

All four defeats in that run came against nations ranked above them in the

FIFA

World Rankings — the same bracket

occupy. Five of their last seven

knockout ties were level after normal time. They are specialists at making games uncomfortable.

Portugal predicted XI (4-2-3-1):

Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha; Neto, Fernandes, Felix; Ronaldo

Croatia predicted XI (4-3-3):

Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol; Sucic, Modric, Kovacic; Baturina, Budimir, Perisic

The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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