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Portugal vs Croatia World Cup Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Portugal with too much firepower for aging Croatia
Portugal face Croatia in the World Cup Round of 32 at BMO Field, Toronto, with Portugal expected to progress based on their dominant head-to-head record and Croatia's lackluster recent form. While Portugal's attack hasn't fully clicked, Croatia's aging squad and struggles against higher-ranked teams suggest Portugal should win inside 90 minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo looks to end his World Cup knockout goal drought, and Joao Felix is tipped to be influential. The key recommendation: back Portugal to win, with live streaming available on bet365 (geo-restrictions apply).
- Portugal vs Croatia predictions for Thursday's World Cup R32 game
- Portugal have been dominant in this H2H, backed to win inside 90 mins
- Ronaldo & Felix main threats in attack
- The game is scheduled for kick off at 9.00am AEST on Friday July 3
Expired
Portugal vs Croatia World Cup Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Portugal will be looking to extend their dominant record over Croatia and reach the R16 of the World Cup when the two teams clash at BMO Field in Toronto on Thursday.
I don't really like backing Portugal in major tournaments with Cristiano Ronaldo up front and barely moving, but I think this is a great R32 draw for Roberto Martinez's side - the only problem is that they will have to most likely make it past Spain and France just to reach the World Cup final and keep their bid for a maiden trophy alive after landing on this side of the draw following their runner-up group stage finish.
Speaking of Ronaldo, the legendary striker has never scored a goal in eight previous World Cup knockout games. He's had a whopping 29 shots, but never found the back of the net - after scoring a brace against Uzbekistan, I can see the 41 year-old shooting at any given opportunity here to snap his drought.
Back to the game and I just don't rate Croatia - half of their attack is 34 years or older, while Modric is 40 pulling the strings in midfield. They can still beat lower-ranked teams, but they've lost 4-2 to England, 2-0 against Belgium and 3-1 vs Brazil in recent matches against nations ranked higher than them.
Which is why I like Portugal to win this game inside 90 minutes and with room to spare, improving their already dominant five wins from six competitive meetings with the Checkered Ones. Joao Felix has started the last two games for Portugal and has a good record against Croatia - he can get involved with the goals here.
Portugal vs Croatia Stats & Trends
- Portugal are unbeaten in 21 of their last 23 games, winning 15
- Croatia have lost by two goals in their last three games vs higher-ranked teams
- Portugal have won five of their six competitive games vs Croatia
- Cristiano Ronaldo has registered 13 shots in his three games this World Cup, averaging two on target per game
- Joao Felix has scored three goals in his last four appearances vs Croatia & should start here
Portugal vs Croatia Head To Head
As mentioned, Portugal have won five of the last six competitive meetings, with the last three coming in the Nations League.
Portugal Form Analysis
It wasn't a convincing group stage from Portugal at all as they finished runner-up to Colombia and subsequently landed on the same half of the draw as tournament favourites Spain and France, with the former looming as opponents in the R16.
Portugal lost the xG battle with DR Congo in their opening 1-1 draw before getting back on track with a 5-0 thumping of Uzbekistan, with Ronaldo picking up a brace.
However, Roberto Martinez's side were outclassed by Colombia in the battle for top spot, losing the shot count 24-13 in a highly entertaining game that somehow ended up goalless.
Portugal managed just 10 corners in their three group games, further demonstrating how they are not firing on all cylinders in attack.
Portugal Team News
Pedro Neto, Joao Felix and Ronaldo should operate as the front three, with Joao Neves coming back into midfield after being left on the bench against Colombia.
Nuno Mendes, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo are expected to line up in defence ahead of goalkeeper Diogo Costa, with Bruno Fernandes taking up the playmaking role.
Portugal Squad
| Position | Player | Age | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Diogo Costa | 26 | 46 | 0 | Porto |
| GK | José Sá | 33 | 5 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| GK | Rui Silva | 32 | 3 | 0 | Sporting CP |
| DF | Nélson Semedo | 32 | 52 | 0 | Fenerbahçe |
| DF | Rúben Dias | 29 | 78 | 3 | Manchester City |
| DF | Tomás Araújo | 24 | 6 | 0 | Benfica |
| DF | Diogo Dalot | 27 | 36 | 3 | Manchester United |
| DF | Renato Veiga | 22 | 16 | 1 | Villarreal |
| DF | Gonçalo Inácio | 24 | 22 | 2 | Sporting CP |
| DF | João Cancelo | 32 | 71 | 12 | Barcelona |
| DF | Nuno Mendes | 24 | 47 | 2 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| MF | Matheus Nunes | 27 | 21 | 2 | Manchester City |
| MF | Bruno Fernandes | 31 | 92 | 29 | Manchester United |
| MF | Bernardo Silva | 31 | 111 | 14 | Real Madrid |
| MF | João Neves | 21 | 25 | 4 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| MF | Rúben Neves | 29 | 68 | 1 | Al-Hilal |
| MF | Vitinha | 26 | 41 | 0 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| MF | Samú Costa | 25 | 7 | 0 | Mallorca |
| FW | Cristiano Ronaldo (Captain) | 41 | 231 | 145 | Al-Nassr |
| FW | Gonçalo Ramos | 25 | 26 | 10 | Milan |
| FW | João Félix | 26 | 56 | 12 | Al-Nassr |
| FW | Francisco Trincão | 26 | 19 | 3 | Sporting CP |
| FW | Rafael Leão | 27 | 47 | 6 | Milan |
| FW | Pedro Neto | 26 | 28 | 3 | Chelsea |
| FW | Gonçalo Guedes | 29 | 34 | 8 | Real Sociedad |
| FW | Francisco Conceição | 23 | 19 | 4 | Juventus |
Croatia Squad
Croatia did largely what I expected in the group stage, finishing in second behind England as they look to make an unlikely impact on the knockout stages.
Runners-up in 2018 and semi-finalist in 2022, there's a feeling this Croatian side are past their use-by-date and their performances in the group stage reinforce that feeling.
Zlatko Dalic's side were blown away 4-2 by an average English side who struggled against Ghana, Panama and Congo in their next games.
Croatia managed to edge out Panama 1-0 and Ghana 2-1 to confirm their spot in the R32, but a lack of pace out wide and missing star quality up front should cost them in the bigger games.
Portugal vs Croatia Live Stream
Watch and bet on Portugal vs Croatia live football from the World Cup.
You can watch and bet on the match live at bet365 > Soccer > World Cup 2026 with the action available to stream on desktop and mobile.
Geo-restrictions apply, you'll need a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to gain access.
To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Note, under Australian law, Live Streaming on bet365 is exempt from Parts 3 and 4 of the Broadcasting Services (Online Content Service Provider Rules) 2018.
Verdict
Portugal should have too much in attack for a Croatian side who have been second-best against top teams lately.
Portugal Win
H2H
$1.78 - 3 Units
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