Portugal V Croatia | 2024-25 National football matches

well a very warm welcome to you on this most pleasantly clear evening conditions absolutely beautiful perfect for the beautiful game temperatures are kind as well no doubt playing a hand in High attendance levels as well as an elevated level of anticipation here surely this is the hot ticket going around in this deck of the woods it surely must be it is a venue this which simply adds to the spectacle of the game it stages one of the most impressive Arenas in this part of the world everybody standing for the national anthem of Croatia [Music] [Music] [Applause] quite some performance and now here comes the response [Music] [Music] a mouthwatering game this between two very high quality sides a treat for everybody here oh get ready for some highgrade football Peter two strong teams as you say full of wonderful individual talent and we have every right to anticipate some really entertaining football as to whether we'll see a high scoring contest that's a little harder to predict I'm not complaining though because there are good players everywhere you look around this surface and that's a fine start in itself and we're on the way William carvalo it's Bernardo Silva just brushed off the ball there and here's Xiao moutinho Bruno Fernandez and here's Andre Silva Andre Silva really got caught in a trap there and he just couldn't get out good challenge he just stood firm and it's Cristiano Ronaldo xia mutino and here's Andre Silva plenty waiting in the middle looking for a decent ball in and the Finish defending all beit it from an unexpected Source I think it's great to see that kind of application and desire from a forward who wants to help out his defense I I think you know any good team really your Striker should be the first line of that defense and and he's delivering laford rbit still goess Cristiano Ronaldo it's being played forward William carvalo xia moutinho oh no that's not the ball he wanted oh it's a searing run he is a man on a [Laughter] mission let down by a lack of accuracy that's surely a foul free kick regardless of the outcome it is good to see someone running at the defense like that Sho and it's perisic perisic plotting from out on the right hand side Ricardo Pera hoists It Forward yeah he's pulled him up for that challenge [Music] perich tries to get it Forward quickly ah he ack knowledges that he should have come up with something better there yeah the idea was right the delivery wasn't they can re visit that further on cleared without complication and it's been taken straight back Bruno Fernandez still waiting for the first goal sh Cristiano hits one goal Portugal and Portugal Score first see Portugal produced a lovely sequence of passes there it's a terrific brand of football to watch and importantly it is a strong end product Portugal break the deadlock well that's the currency he deals in and he's come good yet again never the one to let you down in these situations terasic VA Portugal got their goal at the end of the first half and the score is 1 n oh well intercepted really alerts the danger and that will be the final action of the first half there we are off they go for half time the break through did indeed come in the first half but there has only been that one goal it is very very tight well this team has found a real Rhythm to their game The Players seem to have clicked well there's good movement off the ball the passes are sticking no one no 's afraid to have a go Portugal coming having established that lead made where the narrative is at least in terms of the score line so far so good so we're already into the second period Portugal carrying a one-goal lead Modric rebich he'll have a go oh fine stop from The Keeper well as test go2 keeper has just received an A+ break vaa to the keeper and try something newelo and it's for CCO and here's perisic lovely bit of skill there oh he's going to be pulled back for that one just a talking to I think yes it is and that has been cleared rbit well it's good stuff this is better well hit and hope is just about the sum of it isn't it Jim spot on Peter [Music] William carvalo tries to switch the play Croatia keeping their men at arms length here yeah I just think it's a a conservative move to deny Runners the opportunity of of going beyond that rear guard Bruno Fernandez and his go for goal no mistake a two goal cion and it's looking safe oh high quality goal lovely first touch Sumptuous second he's made it two and no doubt he's hungry for more two Portugal take a two goal lead and things should be comfortable from here on in well with this kind of authority Peter why not push on and and totally kill this off William carvalo is the guilty party there [Music] and it's Modric aose ball Andre Silva's leading the charge but he's having to go It Alone can't get the better of his opposite number now the counter Modric out towards the flank Ricardo Pereira P steered forward rakitic and it's played forward ribit get away from his [Applause] opponent Ricardo Pereira face it over to the other flank v l rakitic rakitic goes looking Shia mutino Ricardo Pereira William carvalo forward it goes Andre Silva Andre Silva well he doesn't need a second invitation even from that range more than happy to take the muscular approach so that SS it is all over Portugal emerge Victorious here and it's no more than they deserve they were simply the better team the final thoughts to there's a solidity about them