Portugal and Croatia will square off in Toronto, Canada, in a highly anticipated Round of 32 showdown. Neither squad has been quite as dominant as expected during the group stages, with even Croatia’s FIFA ranking changing for this game against Portugal.

There are several surprises across both starting lineups. For Croatia, the decision to bench star defender Josko Gvardiol stands out the most. Manager Zlatko Dalic, whose profile is outstanding, has opted to keep him among the substitutes in a bold tactical move following some shaky performances earlier in this World Cup.

Josko Gvardiol’s underwhelming 2026 World Cup

This isn’t the first time the center-back has missed out on the opening whistle; Gvardiol started on the bench during Croatia’s crucial match against Ghana as well. He struggled significantly in the opening fixtures against England and Panama, registering uncharacteristically low sub-5.0 match ratings in both games.

Gvardiol was widely regarded as one of the finest defensive talents on the planet during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Newertheless, four years later, he has struggled to replicate that same imperious form, and his uncharacteristic lapses have heavily impacted Croatia’s defensive stability.

Croatia’s starting lineup to face Portugal

The outcome of this heavyweight clash between Portugal and Croatia will completely reshape the rest of the 2026 World Cup bracket. For that reason, Dalic has chosen continuity, electing to field the exact same lineup used to secure their progression against Ghana.

Here is the official Croatia starting XI tasked with shutting down Portugal tonight: Dominik Livakovic; Josip Stanisic, Marin Pongracic, Josip Sutalo; Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric (C), Nikola Vlasic, Martin Baturina, Petar Sucic; Ante Budimir, Ivan Perisic.

Canadian referee Drew Thomas Fischer will take charge of a match with major implications for both teams’ ambitions. For Croatia, a draw or defeat would leave them in third place in the group standings.

Zlatko Dalic, the long-time head coach of this national team, has selected the following starting XI for this decisive match: Dominik Livakovic; Josip Stanisic, Marin Pongracic, Josip Sutalo; Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric (C), Nikola Vlasic, Martin Baturina, Petar Sucic; Ante Budimir, Ivan Perisic.

Group L standing ahead of Matchday 3

Croatia’s future in this tournament will naturally depend on whether they win, draw, or lose this afternoon against Ghana. If they fail to take all three points, they could still capture leadership of Group L if England does not manage to beat Panama.

Confirmed Ghana lineup

Carlos Queiroz’s situation may not be as precarious as Croatia’s, as a draw would be enough to secure second place. With Inaki Williams not starting this match, these are the 11 players who will take the field in Philadelphia.

Benjamin Asare; Jonas Adjetey, Gideon Mensah, Derrick Luckassen, Marvin Senaya; Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Antoine Semenyo, Elisha Owusu; Jordan Ayew, Kamaldeen Sulemana.

However, Pep Guardiola wants more. The pressure of failing at the European Cup is finally gone and that allows the club to think bigger. For example, the chase of a massive record such as four consecutive titles in the Premier League.

As a consequence, even after losing a star player like Ilkay Gundogan, Manchester City keeps building the best roster in soccer. A spectacular defender will officially join names such as Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Rodri.

Josko Gvardiol is new player of Manchester City

Manchester City officially announced Josko Gvardiol signed a five-year contract to become the new star of the team. The defender was spectacular for Croatia at the Qatar 2022 World Cup and was one of the best players overall in the tournament.

That’s why many powerhouses in Europe were ready to make massive offers to RB Leipzig during the summer. In the end, the German club accepted a €90 million transfer fee which is the highest number ever paid for a defender in soccer history. Gvardiol is only 21-years old with an incredible future ahead.

“Finally, we did it. It feels good to be part of this team. It was a simple decision for me after the perfect season (the treble). I wanted to learn from the best and I want to be coached by the best coach in the world. I’m really really happy to be here.”

Furthermore, Gvardiol admitted that the recent arrival of Mateo Kovacic was crucial for him to choose Manchester City and had an hilarious message for Erling Haaland. “I’m happy I don’t have to worry about Haaland anymore. It’s nice to have him on my side now.”

Additionally, they are just the second English team in history to win three consecutive titles. The Etihad Stadium outfit have earned a reputation for developing a superb team under Pep Guardiola‘s direction.

But even with such a fantastic roster, the Spaniard apparently insists that they can become even better. So, the Citizens are closing in on their first summer acquisition.

Report: Manchester City agree personal terms with Josko Gvardiol of Lepzig

The ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano reports that Manchester City and Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol have reached a personal agreement. In the following days, the two teams are expected to begin negotiations.

However, the German side is hopeful of keeping the brilliant player, and as per the Italian journalist, they aren’t interested in selling him for less than €100 million. Additionally, it’s believed that Lepzig want the 21-year-old to be the most expensive central defender in history after receiving great praise from Pep Guardiola.

The best participation for Croatia came in 2018 when they reached the final and lost it against France in Moscow. In 1998, they had a breakthrough performance as third-place with Davor Suker as their star and the top-scorer of the tournament with six goals.

Now, in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Josko Gvardiol has become one of the biggest revelations. The 20-yeard old defender from RB Leipzig, might soon sign with a top-club in Europe after brilliant matches with Croatia. Also, one of the details which has made Gvardiol famous is his mask. Continue reading to find out why he uses it.

Why does Josko Gvardiol wear a mask in the World Cup?

A few weeks ago, Josko Gvardiol suffered a massive hit in the face after colliding with his teammate at RB Leipzig, Willi Orban. That incident occurred during a game in the Bundesliga against Freiburg.

Josko Gvardiol had to be taken to the hospital with a broken nose and a huge injury on his right eye. As a consequence, the medical staff recommended him to wear a mask in order to avoid contact during the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

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