Portugal vs Croatia Post Match Reviews, Highlights and More as Portugal Lose

Barcelona, Spain (AP) Croatia defeated Portugal 2-1 in a friendly on Saturday as they prepare for the European Championship, with Luka Modric scoring the winning penalty.

It was Croatia's final game before the tournament begins on June 15 against three-time champion Spain. They are in a competitive Group B alongside Italy and Albania.

Portugal has one more friendly match against Ireland on Tuesday before beginning the campaign against Georgia on June 18. Portugal is the favorite in Group F, which contains Turkey and the Czech Republic.

Coach Roberto Martínez relied on Gonçalo Ramos to lead Portugal's offense instead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who remained on the bench.

Ronaldo joined Portugal on Friday, having finished his club season with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
 

He will make a record sixth appearance at the European Championship. Ronaldo, men's soccer's all-time leading scorer with 128 goals, helped Portugal win the European title in 2016.

Modric opened the opening in the eighth minute at Portugal's National Stadium outside Lisbon, beating goalkeeper Diogo Costa. The 38-year-old Real Madrid midfielder was summoned to the penalty spot after Vitinha fouled Mateo Kovacic in the box.

Halftime substitutes Diogo Jota and Nelson Semedo combined to equalize for the hosts in the 48th minute, with Semedo enabling the Liverpool forward to tap in.
In the 56th minute, Ante Budimir of Osasuna regained Croatia's lead by heading in a rebound of Mario Pašalić's shot, which Costa successfully pushed into the crossbar.
Costa twice denied Nikola Vlašić, saving Portugal from a bigger defeat.
Modric was substituted in the 54th minute. His contract with Madrid is set to expire at the end of the month, following a season in which he lost his starting spot under Carlo Ancelotti. However, the former Ballon d'Or winner appeared to suggest his desire to continue playing for the Spanish club when he informed its fans in the celebrations of Champions League championship No. 15 that he would see them "next season."


Euro 2024 begins on Friday, when host Germany faces Scotland.

Other friendlies

Serbia defeated Sweden 3-0, with goals from Sergej Milinković-Savić, Aleksandar Mitrović, and Dušan Tadić.

England and Serbia begin play on June 16 in Group C, which also includes Denmark and Slovenia.

Denmark defeated Norway 3-1, with Erling Haaland scoring the loser's sole goal. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Jannik Vestergaard, and Yussuf Poulsen scored for the Danes.

Slovenia needed goalkeeper Jan Oblak to make a stoppage-time save to secure a 1-1 tie with Bulgaria.

Switzerland and Austria tied 1-1 after Silvan Widmer leveled for Switzerland following Christoph Baumgartner's early goal.

The first match between Austria and France will take place on June 17. They are in Group D, alongside the Netherlands and Poland.

Switzerland was placed in Group A alongside Germany, Scotland, and Hungary, which defeated Israel 3-0 thanks to a brace from Barnabás Varga.

 

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