Portugal vs Croatia Prediction & Picks - World Cup
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by Bradley Gibbs | in World Cup Picks
Through as the Group K runners-up, Portugal will begin the knockouts with a game against Croatia on Thursday. Both hoping to go deep into the tournament, the pair will meet in Toronto.
The Portuguese were hotly fancied to top their group, but that’s not how it panned out for Roberto Maritnez’s men, who courtesy of ties against DR Congo and Colombia, had to settle for second place. They're up against a Croatian team that also came second, and they’ll now be expected to step on the gas.
As these two teams lock horns in Toronto, ‘Croatia to Win’ appeals as a value selection at odds of +400. Sure, the early market heavily favors the Portuguese, but they’ve not quite hit the spot at this tournament, and in the big games, as they continue to make it all about a Cristiano Ronaldo who is clearly not the player he was, they could easily come unstuck against the crafty Croats, who are no mugs.
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Portugal vs Croatia Form
Portugal and Croatia Latest Matches
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Jun 27, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 23, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 17, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 10, 2026 - International Friendlies
Jun 6, 2026 - International Friendlies
Mar 31, 2026 - International Friendlies
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Jun 23, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 17, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 10, 2026 - International Friendlies
Jun 6, 2026 - International Friendlies
Nov 16, 2025 - World Cup
Oct 14, 2025 - World Cup
3/6 (50%)
2/6 (33%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Jun 27, 2026 - World Cup
Mar 31, 2026 - International Friendlies
Mar 28, 2026 - International Friendlies
Nov 13, 2025 - World Cup
Sep 9, 2025 - World Cup
Sep 6, 2025 - World Cup
3/6 (50%)
0/6 (0%)
3/6 (50%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Jun 27, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 23, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 17, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 7, 2026 - International Friendlies
Jun 2, 2026 - International Friendlies
Mar 31, 2026 - International Friendlies
5/6 (83%)
0/6 (0%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Jun 27, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 7, 2026 - International Friendlies
Jun 2, 2026 - International Friendlies
Mar 26, 2026 - International Friendlies
Nov 14, 2025 - World Cup
Oct 12, 2025 - World Cup
3/6 (50%)
1/6 (17%)
2/6 (33%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Jun 23, 2026 - World Cup
Jun 17, 2026 - World Cup
Mar 31, 2026 - International Friendlies
Nov 17, 2025 - World Cup
Oct 9, 2025 - World Cup
Sep 5, 2025 - World Cup
Portugal against Croatia : Head to Head (H2H)
50 %
33 %
17 %
Average stats (last H2H results)
Nov 18, 2024 - UEFA Nations League
Sep 5, 2024 - UEFA Nations League
Jun 8, 2024 - International Friendlies
Nov 17, 2020 - UEFA Nations League
Sep 5, 2020 - UEFA Nations League
Sep 6, 2018 - International Friendlies
Portugal - Croatia: Form Analysis
Despite starting fast against DR Congo during the first round of group games, the Portuguese have failed to impress. In that game, they were wasteful in offense, while they looked all too easy to get at on the break. Of course, they battered Uzbekistan, but let’s face it, that’s nothing to write home about. Their effort against Colombia last time out was not that of a team hoping to go all the way and claim the big prize, let’s be real. Time to improve.
Their effort against Colombia last time out was not that of a team hoping to go all the way and claim the big prize, let’s be real. Time to improve.
The Croats have absolutely improved since their sluggish start against the English during the first round of group-stage fixtures, when they looked more than useful offensively but lacked defensive strength. They’ve since won two out of two and have delivered the type of performances that saw them grind their way to the final back in 2018. They could easily cause an upset here, so do not write them off.
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Croatia v Portugal last Lineups
Formation : 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Formation : 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Substitutes
J. Sa
R. Silva
DefenderS. Costa
G. Inacio
T. Araujo
N. Semedo
D. Dalot
MidfielderJ. Neves
M. Nunes
B. Silva
ForwardF. Conceicao
G. Guedes
R. Leao
G. Ramos
F. Trincao
I. Pandur
D. Kotarski
DefenderL. Vuskovic
D. Caleta-Car
M. Erlic
K. Jakic
J. Gvardiol
MidfielderN. Moro
T. Fruk
L. Sucic
M. Pasalic
ForwardA. Kramaric
P. Musa
M. Pasalic
I. Matanovic
Portugal & Croatia Squad Analysis
Having seen his team fail to score against Colombia, there’s a good chance that Roberto Martinez makes some changes here. He probably won’t drop Cristian Ronaldo, but Joao Felxi and Pedro Neto could return to the bench in favour of Rafa Leao and Trincao. Francisco Conceicao is also an option for Martinez to consider.
Veterans Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric are once again expected to start.
Meanwhile, in the other dugout, Zlatko Dalic will be looking for more of the same from his Croatia team. Petar Sucic was very good last time out and will likely start behind the forward once again, while Nikola Vlasic, who came into the starting XI and scored last time out, could also start for the second game on the spin. Veterans Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric are once again expected to start.
Most goals and assists
Portugal
Croatia
Cristiano Ronaldo
(2 Goals)
P. Musa
(1 Goals)
,
M. Baturina
(1 Goals)
,
A. Budimir
(1 Goals)
,
N. Vlasic
(1 Goals)
,
P. Sucic
(1 Goals)
P. Neto
(1 Assists)
,
J. Cancelo
(1 Assists)
,
B. Fernandes
(1 Assists)
I. Perisic
(1 Assists)
,
P. Sucic
(1 Assists)
,
J. Stanisic
(1 Assists)
,
L. Modric
(1 Assists)
,
M. Kovacic
(1 Assists)
Portugal - Croatia Key Points
- The Portuguese come into this game off the back of a disappointing tie against Colombia.
- The Croats come into this game off the back of a win last time out.
- The Croats have now won two games on the spin, building more momentum than their opponents.
- The Portuguese have already failed to beat two lower-ranked teams at this tournament.
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Our Portugal vs Croatia Prediction
Are we saying that the Croats will definitely go out and win this game? Absolutely not. However, what we are saying is that if we scratch beneath the surface and really think about it, Zlatko Dalic’s men have a better chance of success than the early odds would have us believe.
After all, it’s not like we haven’t seen the Portuguese falter, while Roberto Martinez’s men also look limited in their ability to guard against the break, which does not bode well ahead of a game against a Croatian side that will look to make life difficult before hitting on the counter, a Croatian side that knows all about going deep at the World Cup.
Our Portugal vs Croatia Pick: Croatia to Win.
Portugal vs Croatia - Other Interesting Picks
João Cancelo to be Shown a Card
A 2026 WC Welcome Bonus for Portugal vs Croatia!
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Portugal vs Croatia match : Frequently asked questions
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
