By:- B.T Team
Image Credit:- Google
Croatia and Portugal first faced off in 1996 during the Euro qualifiers, marking the start of an intense but underrated rivalry.
Oldest Rivalry Moments:
Record-Breaking Ronaldo:
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 99th international goal against Croatia in 2019, inching closer to his 100-goal milestone.
Croatia's Near Misses:
Despite strong showings, Croatia has never beaten Portugal in a competitive match until 2020, in the Nations League.
In Euro 2016, Portugal’s Rui Patrício made crucial saves in penalties, leading his team past Croatia in the Round of 16.
Iconic Penalty Saves:
Dramatic Extra Time:
Their Euro 2016 clash saw a goal-less 90 minutes, only for Portugal to snatch victory in extra time with Ricardo Quaresma’s goal.
The team used real but decommissioned weapons to make combat scenes look more authentic.
Historic Nations League Debut:
Croatia and Portugal faced off in the inaugural Nations League, with Portugal winning their first meeting 4-1 in 2018.
Portugal holds an impressive defensive record against Croatia, conceding fewer than 1.5 goals per game in most encounters.
Rakitic's Memorable Goal:
Ivan Rakitić's spectacular long-range goal against Portugal in a friendly match in 2013 remains a highlight reel favorite.