Portugal Player Ratings v Croatia: No Ronaldo, No Party

Portugal Player Ratings v Croatia: No Ronaldo, No Party

Lisbon, Portugal – In a concerning tune-up ahead of Euro 2024, Portugal’s toothless display against Croatia underlined their reliance on the absent Cristiano Ronaldo.

Goalkeepers

Diogo Costa (6/10): Made some good saves but was helpless on both Croatia goals.

Defenders

Diogo Dalot (5/10): Struggled to contain Sosa down his flank.
Pepe (6/10): Veteran experience showed, but couldn’t prevent Croatia’s attacks.
Ruben Dias (5/10): Uncharacteristically shaky at times.
Nuno Mendes (5/10): Lively on the left, but not as effective as usual.

Midfielders

Bruno Fernandes (4/10): Poor performance by his standards, misplacing passes and losing possession.
Ruben Neves (5/10): Tried to control the game but lacked creativity.
João Moutinho (5/10): Industrious but unable to make an impact.

Forwards

Diogo Jota (4/10): Ineffective and anonymous throughout.
Bernardo Silva (5/10): Flitted in and out of the game, providing occasional moments of inspiration.
André Silva (4/10): Isolated and offered little threat to the Croatian defense.

Substitutes

Goncalo Ramos (6/10): Injected some energy after coming on.
Vitinha (5/10): Offered some control in the midfield.
Rafael Leão (5/10): Had a few bright moments but couldn’t change the game.

Roberto Martinez’s Analysis

“We were toothless without Ronaldo. We need to find a way to play without him, but it’s a big concern. The players looked lost without his leadership and inspiration.”

Conclusion

Without their talisman, Portugal looked a shadow of their former selves. The absence of Ronaldo’s goalscoring threat and on-field influence was painfully evident. Unless Martinez can find a solution to their attacking woes, Portugal’s chances at Euro 2024 seem bleak.