Portugal vs Croatia Predictions

• Portugal have seen over 2.5 goals in all of their home games under Roberto Martinez
• Croatia looked stronger going forward at Euro 2024, but they were poor at the back
• The hosts scored 3.6 goals per game in Euro 2024 qualifying

High-scoring victory for Portugal

Portugal underwhelmed at Euro 2024 having been hyped up ahead of the tournament, with Roberto Martinez shying away from tough choices relating to Cristiano Ronaldo’s place in the side and ultimately watching his team crash out after going almost 400 minutes without scoring. 

A return home should fix Portugal’s scoring woes, having averaged 3.6 goals per game in qualifying, and they meet a Croatian side who have lost some of their defensive strength, as they showed during their own Euro 2024 struggles.

This ageing Croatian roster lost 3-0 to Spain and drew 2-2 with Albania on their way to a group-stage exit. However, they proved to be more of an attacking threat than expected across those matches, which proved a necessary change of tactics fuelled by their inability to rely on their previously solid defensive shape.

Croatia won 2-1 at Portugal ahead of the tournament and they should take the game to the hosts. However, Portugal have amassed an incredible array of attacking talent, and all nine of their home games under Martinez have seen over 2.5 goals land. Back more of the same in their Nations League opener.