As much as Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric would love to feature at the next tournament, the overwhelming likelihood is that one of the great individual World Cup careers ends tonight. It’s Portugal vs Croatia in the last 32 and it’s massive.
Ronaldo will be 45 by the time World Cup 2030 qualifying ends, not that Portugal will be involved as co-hosts. Modric will be 44 when the centenary tournament kicks off.
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This is a high-stakes game for the captains of Portugal and Croatia but the more meaningful consequences are those awaiting the teams afterwards.
Another semi-final for Croatia looks a long way off at this early stage but failing to get there – likelier than not – would mark the end of a famous era that ultimately came to nothing.
For Portugal, going out in the first knockout round would necessitate a significant period of introspection and a couple of very big decisions in the name of producing a team that’s not only more than the sum of its parts, but prioritises the parts that still fit.
Neither Portugal nor Croatia managed much of note in the group stage. Roberto Martinez’s team thrashed a wretched Uzbekistan and drew with DR Congo and Colombia, while Croatia were well beaten by England in Group L.
Whoever wins will return to the United States for trickier challenges ahead. Up until now, the only reason to believe either is worthy of the round of 16 is that it’s impossible that neither will be there.
Joao Neves is pushing for a start for Portugal, while Josko Gvardiol is expected to return after surprisingly being left out against Ghana.
FourFourTwo’s prediction
Portugal 1-0 Croatia
And, yes, it’ll be him.
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