In conclusion League A Group 1 of the period 2024-2025 UEFA Nations League with a confrontation at the top of the table, Croatia And Portugal clash at the Poljud Stadium in Split on Monday evening.

The Selecao have already confirmed their place in the quarter-finals as group winners, but their hosts need a point to be absolutely certain of a place in the knockout stages.

Match example

© Image

Still rewriting the history books at the age of 39, the Portuguese talisman Christiano Ronaldo was responsible for two of the Selecao’s five goals in Friday 5-1 dismantling of Polandincluding an acrobatic bicycle kick to bring up his 132nd victory on the international stage.

No male player has been involved in more victories for his country than Ronaldo, who has 131 victories behind him Sergio Ramos in its wake on November 15, where Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes And Pedro Neto also been hit before Dominik Marczuk at least managed to wipe out Portugal’s clean sheet.

Roberto Martinez and co won’t be losing sleep over their failure to secure a shut-out on Friday, however, as they brushed aside the Group 1 competition in the usual fashion and have already booked their place in the quarter-finals as section winners.

Basement Boys Scotland are the only team to have taken points from the 2016 European champions in the current edition, and of the Selecao’s 10 previous Nations League matches, only one has ended in defeat.

That reverse came at the hands of Switzerland in June 2022, and since June this year Martinez’s men have not conceded more than one goal in a competitive or non-competitive match, although there will be no prizes for guessing who that happened against.

© Image

Croatia warmed up for an ultimately disappointing Euro 2024 with a 2-1 win over Portugal in a summer friendly, but Martinez’s men avenged that loss with the same scoreline in their first Nations League game of the year in September, where Ronaldo bagged his 900th career goal.

Results for Zlatko DalicThe side’s squad since then has been mixed to say the least, as after taking seven points from the nine on offer between September 8 and October 15, the Checkered Ones squandered a chance to finish in second place in Glasgow.

After 85 scoreless minutes at Hampden Park, Aston Villa is the midfielder John McGinn made the telling contribution in a 1-0 success for Scotland, which will still be able to usurp Croatia and clinch the final qualifying spot if Dalic’s men lose on Monday.

The 2018 World Cup runners-up have a three-point lead over both Scotland and Poland, but their superior head-to-head performances over the latter mean they cannot be automatically relegated, and just one point in Split will remove any doubt. their knockout status.

Croatia’s result will also pale insignificant if Poland beat Scotland or if there is no winner in the other Group 1 clash, and September’s loss to Portugal was their seventh defeat from nine previous battles against the Euro 2016 winners, but the visitors may not be enthusiastic. -ho in their attempt to make that eight out of 10.

Format of the Nations League of Croatia:

Form Croatia (all competitions):

Portugal Nations League format:

Form Portugal (all competitions):

Team news

© Image

With the top spot in the group already signed, sealed and delivered, Martinez has allowed some of his big hitters in Ronaldo, Bernardo SilvaNeto and Fernandes – who is suspended for Monday’s match anyway – will return to their clubs early, a huge boost for Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.

To close the gaps, Martinez has been promoted Fabio Silva and Sporting Lisbon’s in-demand full-back Geovany Quenda up from the Under-21s, and Tiago Djalo He is also expected to be involved as he was the unlucky man to miss the 23-player squad against Poland.

The Portuguese boss could certainly make a plethora of changes for Monday’s match Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo And Vitinha in the Portugal XI, while Rui Silva And Jose Sa will fight to displace Diogo Costa in target.

Just like Fernandes and Portugal, Croatia’s own number 10 Petar Sucic is suspended for Monday’s match after being sent off for two bookable offenses in the defeat to Scotland; or Mario Pasalic or Nikola Vlasic should replace it here.

On two brighter notes, Ante Budimir and first choice goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic are back from their own ban, and the latter will surely supplant Dominik Kotarski between the posts, but Andrej Kramaric should retain his place in the final third above Budimir.

There may also be a forced change in the area of ​​defense Kristijan Jakic escaped with an injury in the final moments of the loss against Scotland, so Marin Pongracic could be given a role as a right back.

Possible starting line-up for Croatia:
Livaković; Pongracic, Caleta-Car, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Modric, Kovacic; L. Sucic, Pasalic, Perisic; Kramaric

Possible starting line-up for Portugal:
R Silva; Cancelo, Djalo, Araujo, Tavares; Vitinha, Neves; Conceicao, Felix, Trincao; F.Silva

We say: Croatia 1-1 Portugal

With Martinez having already sent home some world-class troops and Portugal having nothing but personal pride at stake, it wouldn’t be surprising if a hint of complacency crept into the visitors’ play.

As a result, Croatia – as inconsistent as they have been – should be more than able to collect the point they need to join the Selecao in the Nations League quarter-finals.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, click here.

Previews by email