Croatia joined Portugal in the quarter-finals of the Nations League after the sides played out a 1-1 draw in Split on Monday.
2024/2025 UEFA Nations League
1-1
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
4' Neves fails to get the ball from a good cross by Mendes
17' Livaković blocks Leao's shot as Otavio gets the rebound and fires it high
29' Leão has a shot blocked before Semedo misses the target
33' Félix opens the scoring from a great assist by Vitinha! Croatia 0-1 Portugal
39' CLOSE! Kramarić’s shot hits the woodwork!
47' Leão with another chance! Félix feeds him a great ball but his shot is wide
50' José Sá makes a good save to deny Baturina's effort
62' Gvardiol nets the equalizer but it's disallowed for offside after VAR review
65' Gvardiol connects with Jakić's cross to score equalizer! Croatia 1-1 Portugal
73' Livaković prevents Portugal from restoring their lead as Mendes' shot blocked
78' José Sá makes great double save to deny Croatia's effort
92' Almost a late winner for the hosts! Budimir hits the woodwork!
Match Report
Josko Gvardiol equalised in the 65th minute after Joao Felix had put Portugal – already assured of top spot – ahead in the first half at Stadion Poljud.
That goal ensured Croatia finished a point better off than Scotland in Group A1 after they earned a late 2-1 victory over Poland in Warsaw.
In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix stepped up by taking Vitinha's pass in his stride and calmly firing past Dominik Livakovic in the 33rd minute – the goal allowed to stand after a VAR check for offside.
Andrej Kramaric blasted an effort back off the crossbar and Gvardiol had a goal disallowed for offside either side of the interval as Croatia pressed for a leveller.
Gvardiol found the net again soon after, though, and this time it was allowed to stand as he got on the end of Kristijan Jakic's delivery at the back post.
Livakovic and Jose Sa produced fine saves to deny Nuno Mendes and Ante Budimir, who also hit the outside of the post, but neither side could find a winning goal.
#Croatia is in the #NationsLeague quarterfinals - congratulations! #CROPOR#UNL | #PokažiSrce | #Family | #Vatreni pic.twitter.com/0TXZBhwj81
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) November 18, 2024
Data Debrief: Gvardiol scores again against blunt visitors
Roberto Martinez opted to release Ronaldo, Silva, Pedro Neto and the suspended Fernandes back to their clubs before this game and Portugal lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.
Joao Felix took his chance very well, scoring his one goal from an expected goals (xG) value of 0.58 across the 90 minutes, but the visitors were unable to find the net from any of their other 11 attempts.
Croatia's attackers were also frustrated by a mixture of the frame of the goal and Sa, but in-form defender Gvardiol was the hero as he netted for the fourth time this season already for club and country.
Line-ups
Croatia XI: Modric, Perisic, Kramaric, Kovacic, D. Livaković, Caleta-Car, Borna Sosa, Josip Sutalo, Josko Gvardiol, Igor Matanovic, Martin Baturina
Subs: Budimir, Mislav Orsic, Pasalic, Pjaca, Ivica Ivusic, Vlasic, Nikola Moro, Kristijan Jakic, Marin Pongračić, Kotarski, Luka Sucic, Marco Pasalic
Portugal XI: Cancelo, Otávio, Semedo, Jose Sa, Felix, Leao, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Tomás Araújo, João Neves, Renato Veiga
Subs: Rui Silva, Dalot, Trincão, Tiago Djaló, Fábio Silva, Francisco Conceição, Samú Costa, António Silva, Geovany Quenda