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Win in 90 or 120 Minutes! Penalties Should Be Avoided; The Portuguese Are Specialists
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Sports

Win in 90 or 120 Minutes! Penalties Should Be Avoided; The Portuguese Are Specialists

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Croatia and Portugal face off in a crucial World Cup match, with Portugal holding a historical advantage in their encounters.
  • Portugal is noted for its exceptional skill in penalty shootouts, having won multiple major tournaments through this method.
  • Croatian goalkeeper Livakoviฤ‡ is a strong asset, but avoiding penalties against Portugal's specialist goalkeeper Diogo Costa is advised.

Croatia and Portugal are set to clash in a high-stakes World Cup match, with the winner advancing to the next round. Historically, Portugal has a dominant record against Croatia, securing seven wins in their previous ten encounters, with Croatia managing only one victory and two draws. This upcoming match marks their first meeting at a World Cup.

Victory in 90 or 120 minutes! Penalties should be avoided; the Portuguese are specialists in them.

โ€” Article headlineSetting the strategic tone for the match against Portugal.

The article highlights Portugal's formidable reputation in penalty shootouts, a skill that has seen them triumph in several major tournaments. They defeated France in the 2016 Euro final and Spain in the 2025 Nations League final via penalty kicks. Their prowess in shootouts began with victories against England in both the 2004 Euros and 2006 World Cup quarterfinals.

Portugal's goalkeeper Diogo Costa is one of the best in the world at saving penalties. But we also have a strong asset โ€“ Livakoviฤ‡.

โ€” Article textComparing the goalkeepers' strengths ahead of the match.

Portugal's current goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, is recognized as a specialist in saving penalties. His performance in the 2024 Euros, where he saved three penalties against Slovenia, and his crucial save in the 2025 Nations League final against Spain, have cemented his status as one of the world's top penalty stoppers. His presence instills confidence in his teammates and creates pressure for opposing penalty takers.

Besides beating Croatia 1-0 with a goal in the 117th minute, they also beat France by the same score in the 109th minute of the final.

โ€” Article textHighlighting Portugal's history of winning crucial matches in extra time.

While Croatia boasts its own strong goalkeeper in Livakoviฤ‡, the article suggests that avoiding a penalty shootout against Portugal would be a strategic advantage for Croatia. The emphasis is on securing a win within regular time or extra time to bypass Portugal's renowned penalty-taking expertise.

For Portugal, it has become almost a specialty. Throughout history, they have won five times in major competitions after penalty shootouts.

โ€” Article textDescribing Portugal's exceptional record in penalty shootouts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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