Portugal storm to victory against Croatia in their opening Nations League game

Portugal secured a comfortable 4-1 victory over World Cup runners-up Croatia with a scintillating display that overwhelmed their opponents.

With Cristiano Ronaldo forced to miss out through injury, some may have expected Portugal to lack some attacking intensity and quality, but the work of the likes of Diogo Jota, Joao Felix and Bernardo Silva ensured that Portugal not only earned victory, but thoroughly impressed with a professional and dominant performance.

Portugal struck the post on no fewer than three occasions in an opening half which Portugal could have been comfortably ahead in, with Pepe also having a double chance to break the deadlock, but Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic was in inspired form.

Joao Cancelo was the player that finally scored for Portugal with what was their 16th shot of the game, his beautiful curling effort on his left foot finding the top corner 5 minutes before half time.

After the break, Portugal only continued with their intensity and pressing, with Diogo Jota and Joao Felix both scoring before the 70 minute mark to get their first goals for the senior national team.

Croatia did get a consolation late on through Bruno Petkovic, but it was Portugal who got the last laugh, with Andre Silva prodding home on the line with the final kick of the game after Pepe’s header knocked the ball towards the back post.

No Ronaldo, no problems

Croatia, it must be said, were missing two crucial players for the game, with midfield duo Modric and Rakitic both having to withdraw from the squad through injury - but Portugal were missing a couple of key players themselves, Renato Sanches dropping out of the team, while talisman Cristiano Ronaldo was also out of contention through injury.

But Portugal looked a quality side despite the absence of their main man, showing attacking endeavour and excellent intensity as they continued to swarm the Croatia players and push forwards with purpose at every given opportunity.

It wasn’t just attacking-wise that Portugal proved to be on another level compared to Croatia though; while Pepe and Ruben Dias had little to do all game, every ball that was knocked into the box was headed out with purpose as their dominant defensive display extinguished every brief Croatia attack that arose - with exception to their 90th minute consolation.

It was Croatia that had the first shot of the game, but after that, Portugal completely dominated. In the opening 20 minutes, Joao Felix had a golden chance to score from a Bruno Fernandes knock-down, but fired his shot down the middle of the goal which was swiftly blocked, while Joao Cancelo’s excellent trivela then forced a smart stop from Dominik Livakovic in the Croatia goal.

Felix then had a deflected shot that struck the top of the post, before Guerreiro lashed in a rebounded effort that forced the Croat shot-stopper into another tidy save. Pepe had a huge opportunity just three minutes later, his bullet header parried out by Livakovic, before he acrobatically saved Pepe’s follow-up effort with his feet.

Diogo Jota continued Portugal’s misfortune in goal, his delicate curling header then striking the other post, while Guerreiro made it third time unlucky for Portugal as his beautiful curling shot from range also hit the frame of the goal, before coming off the keeper and going just wide. It was starting to look as though it wasn’t going to be Portugal’s day, despite all their attacking prowess.

Thankfully, Cancelo finally broke the deadlock just before half time, and it was always going to take something special to beat Livakovic. Cancelo cut inside onto his weaker left foot, before curling an outrageous effort into the top corner.

Portugal continued after the break, with Bruno Fernandes having a couple of half chances early on, first a free-kick that went over the bar, before a shot from the edge of the box went straight down the middle and was comfortably saved by Livakovic.

Diogo Jota then doubled the lead in the 57th minute, taking the ball down well before thumping home after an excellent Guerreiro pass. Joao Felix scored 12 minutes later with a thunderous drive from the edge of the area that was too hot to handle for the Croatian keeper.

Croatia did get a consolation after a mix-up at the back by Cancelo, but Andre Silva then completed the rout at the end despite only coming on in the 88th minute, scoring from a nodded on corner to continue his excellent goalscoring record for his country.