In the international friendly between Portugal and Croatia on June 8, 2024, Croatia clinched a 2-1 victory over Portugal. This match garnered considerable attention due to the strategic decision by Portugal’s coach to bench Cristiano Ronaldo, opting to field a younger lineup instead.
Croatia set the pace early, with Luka Modric scoring from the penalty spot in the 8th minute. Portugal struggled to gain a foothold in the first half but found their equalizer early in the second half. Diogo Jota, assisted by Nelson Semedo, brought the score to 1-1.
However, Croatia quickly regained their lead with a goal from Ante Budimir in the 56th minute. Despite Portugal’s efforts to equalize, creating multiple scoring chances, the Croatian defense, anchored by goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, held firm.
Benching Ronaldo provided an opportunity for Portugal to highlight emerging talents and assess their depth ahead of future competitions. Nonetheless, Ronaldo’s absence was palpable, and his experience and leadership might have altered the match’s outcome. This friendly served as an important learning experience for Portugal as they look to refine their squad for upcoming challenges.
