World Cup Tips: A 9/1 Bet Builder for Portugal v Croatia

Croatia World Cup betting tips

The last 32 of the World Cup continues onwards as the teams battle for places in the second knockout round and European heavyweights Portugal and Croatia face off in Toronto.

Portugal and boss Roberto Martinez have come under scrutiny after drawing two of their three group games, with Cristiano Ronaldo playing every minute in the tournament so far despite signs that his influence has waned.

Croatia, too, have stars the wrong side of 40 but they have built momentum with wins over Ghana and Panama after their opening 4-2 loss to England.

We’ve assessed the Portugal v Croatia market for a Bet Builder, which pays out at 9/1 if successful in the World Cup betting market.

Portugal v Croatia Bet Builder Tips

• Croatia to qualify @ 2/1

• Under 2.5 goals @ 3/4

• Nuno Mendes 1+ shots Super Sub @ 4/11

• Portugal most corners @ 11/20

  Pays out at 9/1

Modric can outlast Ronaldo in Toronto

Portugal have underwhelmed at this tournament, failing to win two of three games and taking second place behind Colombia in Group K.

Boss Martinez appears handcuffed to selecting iconic forward Ronaldo in all scenarios, with the 41-year-old ever-present across the three group games despite his influence being on the wane.

He netted two in the rout of Uzbekistan but, that aside has been a shadow of his former self and his presence has long been a source of concern for those outside of the Portuguese camp.

Croatia were dismantled by England in their opener but responded well with two hard-fought wins over Ghana and Panama.

Their record in World Cup knockout games is superb. They reached the final in 2018 and lost to Argentina in the 2022 semis.

All told, since their independence, they’ve been defeated just three times in 12 knockout games – including third-fourth place play-offs – while they have a 4-4 record in penalty shootouts.

Former Real Madrid team-mates Ronaldo and Luka Modric are beyond the 40-year-old-mark now and it could be the latter that is left standing in Toronto.

Leg 1: Croatia to qualify @ 2/1

Tense tussle in store

This is unlikely to be a game for the purists.

At Euro 2024, Portugal drew their knockout ties 0-0 with Slovenia and France, while five of Croatia’s last seven World Cup knockout games have ended either 1-1 or 0-0 after the 90 minutes – the exceptions being the 2018 final and 2022 semi-final.

The most recent meeting of these nations was a 2024 UEFA Nations League contest that ended 1-1 in Split.

Under 2.5 goals has landed in two of Portugal’s three games, while Croatia were 2-1 winners against Ghana despite recording an xG figure of 0.42.

Four of the first seven knockout games in this tournament produced under three goals, with two more edging over 2.5 goals with later strikes.  

Leg 2: Under 2.5 goals @ 3/4

Mendes a threat moving forward

Portugal’s struggles are highlighted by the fact they had just three shots on target combined against DR Congo and Colombia. Ronaldo looks isolated up front and the team isn’t as cohesive as it should be behind him.

Paris Saint-Germain wing-back Nuno Mendes was on the scoresheet in the win over Uzbekistan with a fine free-kick.

He averaged 2.2 shots per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 last season and can fire at least one at this Croatian side.

Leg 3: Nuno Mendes 1+ shots Super Sub @ 4/11

Corner count to favour Selecao

One area where Portugal should come out on top is on corners.

Croatia took just seven flag kicks in three group games, while they lost the corner-count 7-5 in that Nations League draw on home soil in 2024 and are down 51-31 on corners in six meetings with Portugal since 2018.

Leg 4: Portugal most corners @ 11/20