BARCELONA, Spain — Goals in each half by Luka Modric and Ante Budimir got Croatia a historic first win over Portugal in eight matches as they beat the hosts 2-1 in Euro 2024 warm-up, as Cristiano Ronaldo remained on the bench.
It was Croatia´s last game before it opens the tournament against three-time winner Spain next Saturday. They are in a tough Group B along with Italy and Albania.
Portugal, who won six of their previous seven matches against Croatia, begins their Euro 2024 Group F campaign against Czech Republic on June 18.
Portugal has one more friendly – against Ireland on Tuesday – before it starts the competition against Georgia on June 18. Portugal is the favorite in Group F that also includes Turkey and the Czech Republic.
Euro 2024 kicks off on Friday when host Germany plays Scotland.
Vitinha brought down Mateo Kovacic in the box soon after kick-off, resulting in a penalty.
Portugal keeper Diogo Costa rightly guessed where Modric would aim, but his dive to the right fell just short as the Real Madrid midfielder scored his 25th goal for Croatia.
But half-time substitute Diogo Jota brought Portugal level three minutes after coming on, when fellow substitute Nelson Semedo found him inside the six-yard box with a short cross from the right. The Liverpool forward made no mistake with the close-range finish.
But Croatia restored their lead eight minutes later, despite Costa’s best efforts as he did well to deflect Budimir’s attempt to the crossbar. The rebound went right back to Budimir who headed it into the net with ease.
Ronaldo joined Portugal on Friday after finishing his club campaign with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
The 39-year-old is set to make a record sixth appearance at the European Championship. Men´s soccer all-time leading scorer with 128 goals, Ronaldo helped Portugal win the European title in 2016, AP reported.
Modric beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa to open the scoring in the eighth minute at Portugal´s National Stadium near Lisbon. The 38-year-old Real Madrid midfielder was sent to the penalty spot after Vitinha fouled Mateo Kovacic in the area.
Halftime substitutes Diogo Jota and Nelson Semedo linked up to equalize for the hosts in the 48th, with Semedo assisting the Liverpool forward to tap in.
Ante Budimir restored Croatia´s advantage in the 56th after the Osasuna striker headed in a rebound of a strike by Mario Pasali´c that Costa had done well to push onto the crossbar.
Costa twice denied Nikola Vlasi´c to save Portugal from a heavier defeat.
Modric was substituted in the 54th. His contract with Madrid is set to expire at the end of the month following a season when he lost his starting role in Carlo Ancelotti´s side.
But the former Ballon d´Or winner seemed to indicate he wants to continue playing for the Spanish club when he told its fans in the celebrations of Champions League title No. 15 that he would see them “next season.”
OTHER FRIENDLIES
Serbia rolled to a 3-0 win in Sweden thanks to goals by Sergej Milinkovi´c-Savi´c, Aleksandar Mitrovi´c and Dusan Tadi´c.
England and Serbia open play on June 16 in Group C that also includes Denmark and Slovenia.
Denmark bettered Norway 3-1, with Erling Haaland getting the loser´s only goal. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Jannik Vestergaard, and Yussuf Poulsen found the net for the Danes.
Slovenia needed goalie Jan Oblak to make a stoppage-time save to ensure a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria.
Switzerland and Austria drew 1-1 after Silvan Widmer leveled for the Swiss following an early goal by Christoph Baumgartner.
Austria and France will face off in their opener on June 17. They are in Group D with the Netherlands and Poland.
Switzerland has been drawn in Group A with Germany, Scotland and Hungary.
