CORNERFLICK
Zlatko Dalić has warned Croatia that their World Cup last-16 meeting with Portugal will be decided in midfield, as the two sides prepare to meet in the round of 16 of the 2026 tournament.
Croatia face Portugal on Friday morning Iran time, with Dalić saying his team have trained well and should not overhaul their usual approach. He said both sides know each other well and that Croatia must limit errors against a Portugal side he described as technically strong.
The Croatia coach also pointed to set-pieces as a key area, saying Portugal are particularly dangerous from dead-ball situations. He referenced Croatia’s perfect penalty record across their last two World Cups, but said concentration and quality goalkeeping matter more than luck.
Dominik Livaković was asked about the prospect of Luka Modrić facing Cristiano Ronaldo and called it a clash between two players who have had a major impact on football. He said he hoped Modrić would be the one to keep Croatia moving through the tournament, while stressing that the whole Croatian defence must be at its best against one of the world’s strongest national teams.