Croatia 1-1 Portugal – Spoils shared as each side qualify for UEFA Nations League quarter-finals – Eurosport

Croatia certified for UEFA Nations League quarter-final due to a 1-1 draw with Portugal

A much-changed Portugal began the sport strongly, transferring the ball properly and seeking to play on the entrance foot in Break up.

Roberto Martinez’s facet took the lead on the half-hour mark, with Vitinha enjoying an excellent lengthy cross from his personal half excessive of the Croatia defence and into the trail of Joao Felix who took it down with a superb contact earlier than slotting residence previous Dominik Livakovic.

Zlatko Dalic’s facet virtually equalised simply 5 minutes later when Andrej Kramaric fired an effort which cannoned off the publish.

Croatia began the second half a lot brighter and thought they ha equalised simply after the hour mark when Josko Gvardiol headed residence previous Jose Sa, just for the flag to go up and the purpose be dominated out.

Gvardiol didn’t have to attend lengthy for one more probability although and after 67 minutes he did equalise, ghosting in on the again publish behind Nelson Semedo to fireplace residence previous Sa.

Croatia virtually gained the sport within the dying moments when substitute Ante Budimir crashed an effort off the publish however ultimately it was immaterial, a degree was all Croatia wanted to affix Portugal within the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals and a degree is what they gained.

It has not been a very memorable UEFA Nations League marketing campaign for Croatia, eight factors from a potential 18 (W2 D2 L2) however tonight that they had one goal in thoughts, to choose up a degree and qualify for the quarter-finals – and that’s precisely what they’ve achieved.

Regardless of now making it three consecutive Nations League matches with out a win (1-1 with Portugal, 0-1 v Scotland and 3-3 with Poland), Zlatko Dalic’s facet did sufficient to recover from the road and be a part of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark and Spain within the quarter-finals.

Portugal, however, will probably be delighted with their marketing campaign, particularly after failing to qualify for the knockout levels of the competitors in every of the final two campaigns.

Tonight was a possibility for Roberto Martinez to freshen issues up after sending the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo again to their golf equipment early.

Martinez was capable of change up his workforce and even give debuts to a few gamers within the type of Tomas Araujo and substitutes Tiago Djalo and Fabio Silva, all while sustaining their unbeaten standing. A superb evening’s work for each nations.

The midfielder was terrific tonight for Portugal. He was consistently buzzing across the pitch, in search of the ball and transferring Portugal up the pitch along with his progressive passing.

His help for Felix’s opener was worthy of successful the participant of the match award alone, however he was once more instrumental for his facet after additionally enjoying a pivotal position of their 5-0 victory over Poland final trip.

Croatia: Livakovic 7, Perisic 6, Sutalo 7, Caleta-Automobile 6, Gvardiol 7, Sosa 6, Kramaric 7, Modric 7, Kovacic 7, Baturina 6, Matanovic 6 Subs: Jakic 7, Pasalic 7, Sucic 6, Budimir 6, Moro 6.

Portugal: Sa 7, Mendes 6, Veiga 7, Araujo 8, Cancelo 7, Vitinha 9*, Neves 8, Otavio 6, Semedo 6, Felix 8, Leao 7 Subs: Djalo 6, Conceicao 6, Silva 5, Dalot 6.

33’ GOAL! CROATIA 0-1 PORTUGAL (FELIX) – Joao Felix has fired Portugal forward with a superb end! Vitinha fired a superb cross excessive into the trail of Felix who makes no mistake firing previous Livakovic. A brilliant purpose

38’ CROATIA RATTLE THE POST! – Kramaric with an virtually prompt response for Croatia! The ball bounced kindly for the ahead who struck his effort properly but it surely cannons again off the within of the publish and again into play.

67’ GOAL! CROATIA 1-1 PORTUGAL (GVARDIOL) – Gvardiol has equalised for Croatia. Jakic fires a ball to the again publish and Gvardiol is available to fireplace residence.

73’ SO CLOSE TO 2-1 FOR PORTUGAL – Francisco Conceicao fires a superb cross in to the again publish which Nuno Mendes connects with however his effort is straight at Livakovic. That appeared to be a sure purpose.

93’ BUDIMIR STRIKES THE POST! – Budimir has crashed an effort off the skin of the publish! So unfortunate for the Croatian substitute.

Joao Felix has scored three UEFA Nations League targets, with all three coming towards Croatia (September 2020, November 2020 and November 2024).