Euro 2016 match preview: Croatia vs Portugal

Having ended Spain's 14-game unbeaten run at the European Championship, Croatia's reward for topping Group D is another clash with Iberian opposition. 

But whereas Ante Cacic's side began as underdogs against the reigning European champions on Tuesday, they start as narrow favourites against a Portugal team who have reached the last 16 despite remaining winless.

Fernando Santos believes Cristiano Ronaldo's two-goal haul against Hungary will "boost his confidence" but the Portugal coach is also concerned by the defensive lapses he saw in their last game.

"There is no room for error. We have to strike the right balance between defence and attack because when we come forward we leave too many gaps at the back, as our group stage results show," Santos said.

Croatia will have the benefit of an extra day of rest, but striker Nikola Kalinic, who scored in their win against Spain, admits the draw has not been especially kind.

"We could have done with easier opposition than Portugal in the last 16 but if we play like we did in the group stage, we have a great chance of progressing. We are one of the best teams here and if our midfield wins the battle in the centre of the pitch, we should win," he said.

"This is the present generation's chance of a lifetime and we will only be remembered if we do something big here," the Fiorentina forward added.

TEAM NEWS

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric could return after missing the win against Spain with a groin problem.

Coach Ante Cacic must decide whether to recall striker Mario Mandzukic or again select Nikola Kalinic, who scored against the Spanish.

All of Portugal's players trained on Friday and coach Fernando Santos has a full-strength squad to pick from.

Left-back Raphael Guerreiro has recovered from the muscle problem that ruled him out against Hungary.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Portugal have won all three previous encounters with Croatia, scoring a total of six goals and conceding none.
• The only meeting at major tournament was at Euro 96. Portugal won 3-0 in a group game at the City Ground in Nottingham (Croatia were already through to the quarter-finals; Portugal also progressed).
• The sides last faced each other in a friendly in June 2013 staged in Geneva, Switzerland. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal.

Croatia

• The Croats have only lost one of their last 10 games at the European Championship (W6, D3) - with their quarter-final against Turkey in 2008 counted as a draw (they subsequently lost on penalties).
• They are also unbeaten in their last 10 internationals (W8, D2), the longest current run of any team at Euro 2016.
• The only major tournament at which Croatia have won a knock-out game was the 1998 World Cup, when they claimed three victories on the way to finishing third. They have never won a knock-out game at the European Championship (L1, D1).
• Croatia's only previous game at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens was a 3-1 victory against Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup.
• Ivan Perisic has scored or assisted seven goals at major tournaments (four goals, three assists) - only Davor Suker has a better record for Croatia (nine goals, one assist).

Portugal

• The Portuguese are the first team to draw all three of their group games at a European Championship finals.
• Portugal have played the most games (31) in the history of the European Championship without ever winning the tournament.
• They are unbeaten in their last 10 competitive fixtures, winning seven times. All seven of the victories in that run have been by single-goal margins.
• Their last seven goals at the European Championship have been scored by either Cristiano Ronaldo (five) or Nani (two).
• Ronaldo is one shy of equalling Michel Platini's record of nine goals at European Championship finals. Ronaldo's goals have come across four tournaments - Platini's all came at Euro 84.
• Ronaldo has attempted 40 direct free-kicks at major tournaments but is yet to score with any of these efforts.
• All three of the goals Portugal conceded against Hungary were struck from outside the penalty area - the only time that has happened at the European Championship since 1980.

Possible line-ups
Croatia: Subašić; Srna, Ćorluka, Vida, Strinić; Modrić, Badelj; Brozović, Rakitić, Perišić; Mandžukić.

Portugal: Rui Patrício; Vieirinha, Carvalho, Pepe, Guerreiro; William Carvalho, João Moutinho, André Gomes, João Mário; Nani, Ronaldo.