Croatia earned a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Portugal in Split. Despite a heavily rotated lineup, Portugal started the match with energy and intent, dominating possession and pressing forward early.
The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Vitinha delivered a stunning long ball from deep within his own half. His pinpoint pass bypassed Croatia’s defense and found Joao Felix, whose exquisite first touch set him up perfectly to slot the ball past Dominik Livakovic, giving Portugal the lead.
Croatia nearly responded just five minutes later. Andrej Kramaric unleashed a powerful shot that beat Jose Sa but agonizingly struck the post, leaving the Croatian fans holding their breath.
After the break, Zlatko Dalic’s side came out with renewed determination, increasing their tempo and pressing higher up the pitch. Their efforts appeared to pay off just after the hour mark when Josko Gvardiol rose to head the ball into the back of the net. However, the celebrations were short-lived as the goal was ruled out for offside.
Gvardiol didn’t let the disappointment deter him. In the 67th minute, he found himself unmarked at the back post and calmly fired past Sa to bring Croatia level. The defender’s persistence epitomized his team’s resolve as they continued to push for a winner.
Substitute Ante Budimir almost delivered a late victory for Croatia, smashing a shot against the post in the dying moments. Despite coming close, the draw was enough to secure their progression to the quarter-finals alongside Portugal.
While Portugal impressed in the first half, Croatia’s resilience and second-half resurgence ultimately ensured they earned the crucial point needed to advance. Both teams now look forward to the knockout stages, with Croatia eager to build on this momentum and challenge for the Nations League title.
