Date: June 25, 2016
Result: Croatia 0 Portugal 1
Scorers:
Croatia: none
Portugal: Quaresma 117
Venue: Stade Bollart-Delelis, Lens
Match overview:
Ricardo Quaresma’s late goal sent Portugal into the quarter-finals at the expense of Croatia after a desperately frustrating 120 minutes in Lens.
A cagey start continued for almost the entire match, with both sides reluctant to commit players forward. There were no shots on target until the very end of extra-time, when the game briefly sparked into life. Croatia had their best effort of the night when Ivan Perisic’s header hit a post but Portugal scrambled the ball clear. Renato Sanches embarked on a swift counter-attack, fed Nani, whose cross-shot landed at the feet of Ronaldo. Croatia keeper Danijel Subasic did well to parry Ronaldo’s shot but Ricardo Quaresma was on hand to head in the rebound and send Portugal into the quarter-finals.
Croatia defender Domagoj Vida almost grabbed a sensational equaliser but his hooked volley flew inches wide at the death.
Key moment:
Ricardo Quaresma’s late winner, with three minutes of extra time remaining. There was an element of good fortune about the goal, with Nani’s shanked shot falling into the path of Ronaldo.
Man of the match:
Teenager Renato Sanches made a difference when he appeared early in the second half and led the breakaway move which resulted in Portugal’s late winning goal.
Matter of fact:
Nani played his 100th match for Portugal.
Talking point:
Nikola Kalinic was unlucky to be dropped after scoring in Croatia’s final group game against Spain, with Mario Mandzukic back in the starting line-up. But Croatia, despite being hailed as serious contenders after winning their group, showed little attacking ambition and left the tournament with a whimper not a bang.
Stats:
Goal attempts
Croatia: 15
Portugal: 5
Attempts on target
Croatia: 0
Portugal: 2
Corners
Croatia: 6
Portugal: 2
Line-ups:
Croatia
23 Danijel Subasic
03 Ivan Strinic
04 Ivan Perisic
05 Vedran Corluka (09Andrej Kramaric 120)
07 Ivan Rakitic (20 Marko Pjaca 110)
10 Luka Modric
11 Darijo Srna
14 Marcelo Brozovic
17 Mario Mandzukic (16 Nikola Kalinic 88)
18 Milan Badelj
21 Domagoj Vida
Starting formation: 4-2-3-1
Subasic – Srna, Corluka, Vida, Strinic – Modric, Badelj – Brozovic, Rakitic, Perisic – Mandzukic
Portugal
01 Rui Patricio
03 Pepe
04 Jose Fonte
05 Raphael Guerreiro
07 Cristiano Ronaldo
10 Joao Mario (20 Ricardo Quaresma 87)
14 William Carvalho
15 Andre Gomes (16 Renato Sanches 50)
17 Nani
21 Cedric
23 Adrien Silva (16 Danilo 108)
Starting formation: 4-4-2
Patricio – Cedric, Pepe, Fonte, Raphael Guerreiro – William Carvalho, Adrien Silva, Joao Mario, Andre Gomes – Nani, Ronaldo
Yellow cards:
Croatia: none
Portugal: William Carvalho 74
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spa)
Attendance: 33,523
