Croatia secured a 2-1 victory over Portugal in a friendly match on Saturday, with veteran midfielder Luka Modric converting an early penalty. The match, held at Portugal’s National Stadium near Lisbon, served as a crucial warm-up ahead of the European Championship.
Modric, 38, displayed his enduring class by sending goalkeeper Diogo Costa the wrong way in the eighth minute, after teammate Mateo Kovacic was fouled in the box by Vitinha. The Croatian captain’s contribution highlights his significance to the team as they prepare to face formidable opponents in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Spain demonstrated their offensive prowess with a commanding 5-1 win over Northern Ireland. Pedri González shone brightly, netting his first two international goals and signaling Spain’s readiness for the challenges ahead.
These friendlies were the final tests for Spain and Croatia before they clash on June 15 in Berlin. Both teams are part of a competitive Group B, which also includes Italy and Albania, promising an intense battle for advancement.
Portugal, considered the favorites in Group F alongside Türkiye and Georgia, have one more friendly scheduled against Ireland on Tuesday. Despite his presence on the bench, Cristiano Ronaldo did not feature in the match against Croatia. The 39-year-old forward recently concluded his club season with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and is poised to make a record sixth appearance at the European Championship. Ronaldo remains the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 128 goals and was instrumental in Portugal’s 2016 European title victory.
Coach Roberto Martínez opted for Gonçalo Ramos to lead the attack against Croatia, possibly preserving Ronaldo for the upcoming tournament. Portugal will commence their European Championship campaign against the Czech Republic on June 18 in Leipzig.
The recent matches underline the teams’ final preparations and strategies as they head into the highly anticipated European Championship. With seasoned players like Modric and Ronaldo still making significant impacts, and emerging talents like Pedri González rising, the tournament promises exciting developments that will captivate football fans worldwide, including those across Asia who follow European football with great enthusiasm.
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Modric's penalty helps Croatia beat Portugal 2-1 in friendly
cgtn.com
