UEFA Nations League: Can Portugal defend their crown?
Portugal’s 2020-21 Nations League campaign is set to kick off, with Fernando Santos’ side taking on 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia on the 5th September.
It’s sure to be a competitive match - and a competitive group too. Not only does it contain the runners-up of the biggest global international tournament from two years ago, but the eventual winners, France, will also be one of Portugal’s opponents, in addition to an always accomplished Sweden side.
Should Portugal want the chance to defend the trophy they won in Porto last summer, they will need to top the group - which is no easy task. Portugal also know that, should they finish 4th, they will suffer relegation to League B.
Portugal and Fernando Santos, though, will be targeting top spot in the group - and few would bet against the double European champions from doing just that.
Their first two games - which both take place over the next few days - will be critical. Facing both Croatia (home) and Sweden (away), Santos’ side know that two victories will be massive, with matches against France still to come. Lose one of the upcoming games and the hunt for 1st becomes incredibly difficult, if not bordering on impossible. Four point is surely the minimum that Portugal will need, but realistically 6 may well be necessary for Portugal to maintain a reasonable shot at 1st assuming France do not slip up against either of the other two teams in the group.
What to expect from Portugal in their clash with Croatia
Up first is Croatia, and Portugal could well be lacking a couple of key players for the match. Renato Sanches is obviously unavailable, having to drop out of international duty entirely this month due to injury. It’s a real blow, with Renato having come off an excellent season with Lille.
Meanwhile, there’s even further concern, with Cristiano Ronaldo expected to miss the match due to an infection in his toe. His absence, should he miss out, will be significant - though it should be remembered that Portugal reached the finals of the Nations League last season without Ronaldo playing a single group stage game.
Croatia have issues of their own too; neither Modric nor Rakitic, two of their best players as manager Zlatko Dalic pointed out, are available, having to withdraw from the squad, but Croatia shouldn’t be underestimated.
Potential Portugal XI: Rui Patricio - Raphael Guerreiro, Ruben Dias, Pepe, Joao Cancelo - Danilo Pereira, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva - Goncalo Guedes, Andre Silva.
Bruno Fernandes. Photo author: Agência Brasília. License link.
