Croatia lineup vs. Portugal: Predicted XI for World Cup 2026 clash as key defender set to return

Zlatko Dalic has rotated his starting XI crossed each 3 World Cup 2026 radical matches, and different alteration could travel successful Friday’s last-32 clash with Portugal contempt Croatia’s 2-1 triumph implicit Ghana successful their last Group L outing.

Josko Gvardiol was amazingly near retired of the line-up against Ghana but is expected to instrumentality astatine left-back, which would let Ivan Perisic to determination further guardant connected the near wing.

Josip Stanisic and Josip Sutalo person started each lucifer astatine the tournament, with Marin Pongracic forming a settled cardinal antiaircraft concern alongside the second crossed the past 2 games, and each 3 are apt to proceed arsenic the antiaircraft halfway successful beforehand of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. 

Luka Modric has featured from the commencement successful each crippled and volition erstwhile again anchor midfield aft making past arsenic the oldest subordinate to supply a World Cup assist, with Nikola Vlasic heading location from the 40-year-old’s country to unafraid that victor against Ghana. 

Petar Sucic strengthened his lawsuit for different commencement aft opening the scoring successful that encounter, portion Mateo Kovacic is expected to implicit the midfield trio, though Vlasic besides enhanced his chances to diagnostic from the disconnected for a 2nd consecutive outing. 

Meanwhile, Ante Budimir could clasp his spot astatine centre-forward aft his archetypal commencement of the tournament, offering a focal constituent successful attack.

Martin Baturina and Perisic are acceptable to supply width, some having been regular starters passim Croatia’s campaign.

Croatia imaginable lineup:

Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol; Sucic, Modric, Kovacic; Baturina, Budimir, Perisic

> Click present to spot however Portugal could enactment up against Croatia