‍#广场预测世界杯赢40000U

‍#预测世界杯葡萄牙VS克罗地亚

It’s tough, but it’s enough—Portugal edge out Croatia

Everyone is waiting for Croatia to pull off another miracle, and everyone is betting on how far Modrić’s final dance can go. But I’m choosing to stand with Portugal—‌not a big win, not a flawless win, but a hard-fought victory where they grit their teeth, clench their fists, and only find out who wins at the very last moment.‌

Score? I’d guess 2:1. The reasons are as follows👇

1. The gap on paper will be amplified in knockout matches

Don’t tell me about “Croatian spirit being invincible.” The spirit can run for 90 minutes—but the legs can’t.

Portugal’s entire squad’s total value is over 1 billion euros—nearly three times Croatia’s. Leão, B Fee, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias—pick any one of them, and they’re absolute regular starters for top European powerhouse clubs.

And Croatia? Modrić is 40. Kovačić is 30 but his form is clearly declining. Perišić is 35. Gvardiol is the only core in his “prime age,” but one player alone cannot hold up the entire back line.

This has already been proven in the group stage: Croatia struggled to beat Panama and Ghana, with a serious lack of creativity in attack. Even though Portugal didn’t play perfectly in the group stage, their 7:0 demolition of South Korea already showed the terrifying firepower they have when they’re in form.

‌So in knockout matches, what’s the deciding factor? It’s bench depth—who has more cards they can play at critical moments. On this, Portugal wins outright.‌

2. Croatia’s “delay tactics” might not work this time

In the past two World Cups, Croatia used extra time and penalty shootouts to reach the semifinals and secure third place, earning the title “King of Extra Time.” But notice one detail:‌ in matches they won in regular time, they almost never managed it.

In 2018: 1:1 vs Denmark, 2:2 vs Russia, 2:1 vs England (aet); In 2022: 0:0 vs Morocco, 1:1 vs Brazil, 2:1 vs Morocco.

So Croatia’s “win pattern” is almost always: hold on first, then solve it through extra time or penalties.

But this time, Portugal won’t give them the chance to delay.

Martínez’s team may not have top-tier possession, but they do have one thing Croatia fears most—‌speed.‌ The wide-wing pressure from Leão and Rafael Leão is the biggest nightmare for Croatia’s back line, whose average age is on the higher side. Once Portugal find the breakthrough within the first 60 minutes, Croatia will be forced to push forward—but the quality of their counterattacks is simply not enough to tear through the defense line built by Rúben Dias and Pepe (or António Silva).

‌So my prediction is: Portugal will go ahead before 70 minutes, then use the final 20 minutes of stubborn defending plus counterattacks to lock the win.‌

3. Livaković is strong, but not every match can be a “god performance”

No one denies that Livaković is a monster in penalty shootouts. In 2022, he saved penalties from Japan and Brazil back to back—truly like a god-level performance. But note—‌that was penalty shootouts, not regular matches.‌

In regular time, Livaković is a competent goalkeeper, but he’s absolutely not top-class. His height, his decision-making on coming out, and his reaction speed to close-range shots—all show clear weaknesses.

Portugal’s attacking approach is precisely the most controlled kind of attack to test this type of goalkeeper: B Fee’s long-range shots, Leão’s cut-inside runs, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s header for goal-scoring opportunities—everything is a style of attack Livaković is least comfortable facing.

And don’t forget: Portugal also has another “ultimate weapon”—‌Cristiano Ronaldo’s instinct for scoring in big games.‌ So what if he’s 41? This is a man who has scored in six consecutive World Cups. In the critical moments of knockout matches, you can never underestimate a veteran’s determination to prove himself.

4. Modrić is great, but greatness doesn’t automatically mean winning

I’m a fan of Modrić, and I respect everything about him. But football is a sport played by 11 players.

Against Ghana in the group stage, Modrić really did deliver a decisive corner—yet Croatia’s possession rate was only 38%, and they were dominated by Ghana throughout the match. If not for Vlašić’s header, Croatia might not even have made it out of the group.

A 40-year-old Modrić, maintaining a high level for 60 minutes in a 90-minute, high-intensity knockout match would already be a miracle. And Portugal’s midfield “suffocation”—the combination of B Fee, B Silva, and Palhinha—will chew through his stamina relentlessly in the second half.

‌When Modrić can’t run anymore, Croatia’s attack will basically have only one route left: “hoof it forward to the striker.” And facing Portugal’s defenders, that route is basically suicide.‌

5. The psychological side: Portugal truly can’t afford to lose this time

They lost to Uruguay in the round of 16 in 2018, and lost to Morocco in the round of 16 in 2022—Portugal have been eliminated in the first round of the knockout stage for two straight World Cups.

This time, the entire team is carrying enormous pressure. Cristiano Ronaldo said in a pre-match interview, “This is my last World Cup,” and the look in his eyes was full of unwillingness. Martínez also clearly said, “This team won’t repeat the same mistakes.”

‌When Portugal are forced into a corner, they often become the most dangerous Portugal.‌ In Euro 2016, they drew all three group stage matches, were almost knocked out, and then fought all the way to the final to win the title.

That “back against the wall” mentality will, in turn, make Portugal unleash a fighting power in the knockout stage that’s stronger than usual.