Defending champions Portugal kicks off their UFEA Nations League 2020-21 with the clash against Croatia.
Match Timing: September 06 (12:15 AM)
Match Preview
The champions of the inaugural UEFA Nations League start their title defense against the 2018 World Cup Runner-up Croatia in Group 3 fixture on Saturday night. Portugal topped the group in 2018-19 and defeated Switzerland in the semifinal after outplaying Netherlands 1-0 in the final. Portugal’s ultimate focus on next year’s European Championships but this tournament would propel their preparation. They qualified for the Euro Cup after finishing second in Group B. Portugal are also the defending champions in the same tournament as they defeated France 1-0 in Eur0 2016. Fernando Santos's side is placed with reigning WC winner France and Sweden in League A Group 3, who would face each other on the same night. A Selecao has won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions, the most recent came against Luxembourg in November 2019.
Meanwhile, after making a surprise visit in the 2018 WC final, Croatia failed to impress in the Nations League as they won just one game out of their four matches. Vatreni has also qualified for the next European Championships, after finishing top in Group E. The WC runner-up are unbeaten in their last six competitive matches. Zlatko Dalic would keen to leave an impact in the tight group but their main focus is on Euro 2021 and 2022 World Cup qualifiers. In head-to-head, Croatia has lost four of their previous five contest against Portugal. After playing Portugal on Saturday, Croatia will take on their WC rivals France on Tuesday before squaring off against Sweden on November 11.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Portugal
Lineup: Patricio; Semedo, Fonte, Dias, Guerreiro; Neves, Danilo, Fernandes; Ronaldo, A Silva, B Silva
Current Form: W W W L W W
Croatia
Lineup: Livakovic; Jedvaj, Lovren, Caleta-Car, Barisic; Brozovic, Kovacic; Perisic, Vlasic, Rebic; Petkovic
Current Form: W D W D W W
Key Players
Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo
31 goals in Serie A 2019-20
Bruno Fernandes
8 goals & 7 assist in Premier League 2019-20
Croatia
Evan Perisic
4 goals & 3 assist in Bundesliga 2019-20
Marcelo Brozovic
3 goals & 6 assist in Serie A 2019-20
