Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo aim to silence doubters Thursday in Toronto against a resilient Croatian side known for performing under pressure.
The knockout match could mark a final World Cup chapter for 41-year-old Ronaldo and Croatia's 40-year-old midfielder Luka Modric. Pressure is mounting on Portugal coach Roberto Martinez, whose team features elite talent but has struggled for consistency.
After a draw with DR Congo and a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan-where Ronaldo became Portugal's all-time World Cup scorer-a scoreless tie against Colombia fueled criticism. Attacking midfielder Joao Felix insists the team must ignore external noise and focus on the manager's strategy.
Croatia follows a familiar script of slow starts. A 4-2 loss to England and a narrow 1-0 win over Panama preceded a critical 2-1 victory against Ghana, powered by Modric’s playmaking. Nikola Vlasic, who scored the winner, acknowledges Portugal's world-class threats but believes minor details will decide the outcome.