With out Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal fell to Croatia and added doubts for the Euro Cup :: Olé USA

06/08/2024 4:51 p.m. Up to date on 06/08/2024 8:34 p.m.

They didn’t seem assured at any time in the course of the sport. Regardless that he had temporary moments of excellent play, Portugal fell 2-1 in opposition to Croatia on the Estádio do Jamor, with out displaying any sort of assure within the run-up to the Euro Cup and displaying, as soon as once more, that the post-Cristiano Ronaldo stage shall be actually robust…

From the seventh minute of the primary half it may very well be foreseen that it was going to be a really robust sport for Roberto Martínez’s workforce, who determined to protect CR7’s physique and wager on an assault led by the brand new faces of the Portuguese technology. Nonetheless, the plan couldn’t have gone worse: the younger abilities didn’t present their potential, the followers have been crying out for the entry of the native of Madeira and, to prime all of it off, a protection led by the titanic Ruben Dias, defensive pillar of Pep’s Manchester Metropolis Guardiola appeared weak within the face of each rival assault.

Ronaldo and Pepe watched from the bench as Luka Modric took over the midfield, with the vital assist of Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic. In truth, Luka himself was in control of scoring the 1-0 firstly of the primary half, a bonus that his males would preserve till the beginning of the complement.

Solely in that livid begin to the second half may optimistic features of Portugal’s efficiency be seen. The nice entry of the 5 substitutes produced a change of dynamic that led Diogo Jota to attain 1-1 just some minutes after coming into the sphere.

Portugal fell to Croatia. (EFE/EPA/ANTONIO COTRIM)

From this, Portugal turned emboldened and went for the win. It appeared that the three factors may keep at house. However that feeling was solely a mirage, since within the tenth minute Pasalic took a powerful shot from exterior the realm, the ball hit the crossbar and Budimir appeared virtually contained in the purpose to push it together with his head, giving the customer the benefit once more. .

From then on, the tone was the identical once more. An erratic, confused and uncreative Portuguese workforce was making an attempt to attain a purpose that appeared more and more distant. On the opposite facet, a Croatia that was correct in protection and pragmatic in assault, which reached the rival purpose extra clearly and demanded rather more from the opposing goalkeeper.

Portugal fell to Croatia. (EFE/EPA/ANTONIO COTRIM)

To grasp the very low efficiency of the premises, you solely have to take a look at who they’re. That is the goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who made extraordinary interventions and prevented the workforce led by Zlatko Dalic from beating them in entrance of their followers. Maybe, that is the one distinguished title, inside a match that has solely generated doubts earlier than the continental occasion.

Why do not I play CR7?

Earlier than the match, Roberto Martínez had introduced that he was not going to make use of Cristiano Ronaldo within the duel in opposition to Croatia resulting from his latest arrival within the Portuguese delegation, which nonetheless didn’t enable him to adapt to the bodily rhythm of his different teammates.

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t add minutes in opposition to Croatia. (REUTERS/Pedro Nunes)

“Rubén Neves and Cristiano Ronaldo will arrive on June 7. All of the gamers have had seven days to adapt, put together for the Euro Cup, refresh their minds. The plan for the 2 of them is to skip the sport with Croatia and play in opposition to Eire,” the Spanish strategist had assured, within the pre-match press convention.

See Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal – Croatia, as we speak LIVE

08/06/2024, 14:42

Video: all of the targets of Portugal 1 – 2 Croatia

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Budimir as soon as once more put Croatia forward

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Diogo Jota equalized for Portugal

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Luka Modric’s purpose for Croatia 1-0

08/06/2024, 14:41

48′ ST | The sport ended!

Croatia beat Portugal 2-1 on the Estádio do Jamor.

08/06/2024, 14:39

46′ ST | Ruben Dias had the tie within the ultimate

After a weak rejection by Livakovic, the defender was in a position to end inside the realm however ended up defining the goalkeeper’s personal physique.

08/06/2024, 14:34

43′ ST | An impassive complement ending

Portugal intends to equalize the rating, however Croatia neutralizes all its offensive routes and prevents it from doing so.

08/06/2024, 14:32

41′ ST | Modifications in Portugal

• Vitinha left, Matheus Nunes entered

08/06/2024, 14:29

36′ ST | Diogo Costa saved Portugal once more

The Croatians recovered and joined forces in assault shortly, leaving Luka Sucic alone, who couldn’t rating the 3-1 as a result of the Portuguese goalkeeper blocked an excellent one-on-one.

08/06/2024, 14:23

30′ ST | Portugal lowered their degree and Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be on the bench

These led by Roberto Martínez fell emotionally after the purpose and, though they tried to attain, they have been unable to create clear possibilities. In the meantime, CR7 continues sitting among the many substitutes.

08/06/2024, 14:19

29′ ST | Modifications in Croatia

• Marcelo Brozovic left, Nikola Vlasic entered
• Mateo Kovacic left, Luka Ivanusec entered

08/06/2024, 14:18

24′ ST | Modifications in Portugal

• Bruno Fernandes left, Pedro Neto entered.

08/06/2024, 14:15

22′ ST | Portugal overwhelms Croatia, however fails to realize

Within the area of a minute, the Portuguese had three very clear possibilities that they may not convert right into a purpose because of the nice Livakovic or, additionally, resulting from their very own inefficiency when defining.

08/06/2024, 14:13

19′ ST | Bruno Fernandes warned!

The 29-year-old attacker took a robust shot from lengthy distance and the ball handed very near Livakovic’s left put up.

08/06/2024, 14:11

18′ ST | Cancelo wasted a transparent scoring probability

The Portuguese full-back went alone in opposition to the purpose, but it surely took him a very long time to outline and a Croatian defender ended up rejecting the ball on the nook kick.

08/06/2024, 14:10

Video: Croatia’s purpose for 2-1

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Budimir as soon as once more put Croatia forward

08/06/2024, 14:05

15′ ST | The match was opened

Not one of the defenses know easy methods to management the rival assaults and every play has an excellent probability of ending in a purpose.

08/06/2024, 14:04

10′ ST | Croatia purpose!

In Portugal’s finest second, Pasalic took a powerful shot from exterior the realm, the ball crashed in opposition to the crossbar and Budimir appeared virtually contained in the purpose to push it together with his head.

08/06/2024, 13:57

8′ ST| Modifications in Croatia

• Luka Modric left, Mario Pasalic entered
• Luka Modric left, Luka Sucic entered
• Andrej Kramaric left, Ivan Perisic entered

08/06/2024, 13:56

2′ ST| Aim from Portugal!

Semedo moved down the precise wing, entered the realm and gave a go within the center to Diogo Jota, who solely needed to push it to seal the 1-1 rating.

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Diogo Jota equalized for Portugal

08/06/2024, 13:54

00′ ST | The second half has began!

The second half is already being performed on the Estádio do Jamor.

08/06/2024, 13:52

Exchanges in Portugal

• Joao Félix left, Rafael Leão entered
• Diogo Dalot left, Joao Cancelo entered
• Nuno Mendes left, Nelson Semedo entered
• Goncalo Ramos left, Diogo Jota entered

08/06/2024, 13:46

The worrying information of a Portugal with out Ronaldo

All through the primary 45 minutes, Roberto Martínez’s males didn’t full any pictures on purpose.

08/06/2024, 13:35

Video: Luka Modric’s purpose for Croatia 1-0

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Luka Modric’s purpose for Croatia 1-0

08/06/2024, 13:33

The massive unknown of the complement: will Ronaldo enter?

Though Martínez assured that he needs to handle CR7 and Ruben Neves for the subsequent pleasant (vs. Eire), the reality is that the Portuguese current on the Estádio do Jamor are nonetheless enthusiastic about their presence within the pleasant.

08/06/2024, 13:32

45′ PT | The primary half is over!

Croatia beats Portugal 1-0, with a purpose from Luka Modric from the penalty spot.

08/06/2024, 13:26

42′ PT | Croatia missed a really clear probability

The Croatians had two consecutive possibilities. First, Diogo Costa appeared to keep away from a 2-0 lead with a save. Afterwards, Budimir had a header virtually inside the realm, however he missed in an uncommon means and the ball went exterior.

08/06/2024, 13:22

37′ PT | Croatia missed a transparent counterattack

Zlatko Dalic’s workforce caught Portugal off guard and created a counterattack with a majority of males. Why wasn’t it a purpose? A collection of unhealthy selections by the Croatian attackers.

08/06/2024, 13:19

34′ PT | Gvardiol appeared twice within the rival space

The Croatian defender took benefit of two nook kicks to create two clear possibilities. Nonetheless, within the first he couldn’t end in the easiest way and, within the second, he headed the ball over the crossbar.

08/06/2024, 13:15

30′ PT | Cristiano continues to be ready for his alternative on the bench

Portugal doesn’t show an excellent weight in assault and, inside its substitute bench, it has the presence of CR7.

08/06/2024, 13:11

27′ PT | Croatia dominates the match, whereas Portugal suffers the match

The Croatians wouldn’t have clear possession of the ball, however they dominate each side of the sport. For its half, Roberto Martínez’s workforce is imprecise and appears to have one gear much less.

08/06/2024, 13:03

21′ PT | Croatia notified once more

Gvardiol was projected in assault, entered the realm and completed. The ball deflected off a Portuguese defender and handed close to the precise put up.

08/06/2024, 12:58

12′ PT | Diogo Costa saved Portugal

Croatia put collectively a great assault and left Lovro Majer alone to complete. His end was very highly effective, however the Portuguese goalkeeper was in a position to put his fingers firmly to reject the ball to the facet.

08/06/2024, 12:56

10′ PT | Modric had the 2-0

After an erratic rejection by Ruben Dias, Modric completed from exterior the realm and the ball went very shut.

08/06/2024, 12:54

7′ PT | Croatia purpose!

Luka Modric kicked a penalty in glorious style, putting the ball over goalkeeper Diogo Costa’s proper put up.

3′ PT | Joao Félix had the primary shot of the match

The gifted attacker tried a shot, however Dominik Livakovic was in a position to preserve it together with his chest.

08/06/2024, 12:46

00′ PT | The match began!

Portugal and Croatia already meet on the Estadio Nacional do Jamor.