BARCELONA: Luka Modric scored a penalty to help Croatia beat Portugal 2-1 in a friendly on Saturday as they prepare for the European Championship.
It was Croatia’s last game before it opens the tournament against three-time winner Spain on June 15. They are in a tough Group B along with Italy and Albania.
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 Turkiye and the Czech Republic.
Cristiano Ronaldo never left Portugal’s bench, with coach Roberto Martínez tapping Gonçalo Ramos to spear his attack.
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.
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 Pašalić that Costa had done well to push onto the crossbar.
Costa twice denied Nikola Vlašić 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.”
Euro 2024 kicks off on Friday when host Germany plays Scotland.
Modric converts penalty as Croatia beats Portugal 2-1 in Euro warmup while Ronaldo rests
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Modric converts penalty as Croatia beats Portugal 2-1 in Euro warmup while Ronaldo rests
- It was Croatia’s last game before it opens the tournament against three-time winner Spain on June 15
- Modric beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa to open the scoring in the eighth minute at Portugal’s National Stadium near Lisbon
Japan hammer India 11-0 in Women’s Asian Cup mismatch
- Yamamoto scored after just four minutes to begin the rout in Perth and Japan were 5-0 up by halftime
- Taiwan and Vietnam each have three points and India are rock-bottom of the group with none
PERTH: Hinata Miyazawa and Riko Ueki both hit hat-tricks as Japan powered to the cusp of the Women’s Asian Cup quarter-finals with a statement 11-0 demolition of an outclassed India on Saturday.
Yuzuki Yamamoto scored after just four minutes to begin the rout in Perth and Japan were 5-0 up by halftime, with Manchester United’s Miyazawa netting twice.
It was more of the same in the second half, with West Ham United’s Ueki netting a quickfire treble and Miyazawa also scoring her third of the match.
The one-sided romp left Japan top of Group C with a maximum six points having beaten Taiwan 2-0 to start their title bid.
They have scored 13 goals and are yet to concede.
Taiwan and Vietnam each have three points and India are rock-bottom of the group with none.
Taiwan revived their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds with a 1-0 win over Vietnam in stifling heat in Perth earlier in the day.
The only goal of the game arrived in the 26th minute through Su Yu-hsuan when she nodded in from close range.
Vietnam beat India 2-1 to begin their tournament but, in temperatures approaching 40C, they found Taiwan to be a different proposition in front of a sparse crowd bathed in baking sunshine.
Vietnam ramped up the pressure in the closing stages but mustered just one shot on target all game.
North Korea, South Korea and hosts Australia are all already into the last eight with a game to spare, as are reigning champions China.
