Last-Minute Salvation: Portugal Breaks Croatia's Resistance
Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 with a goal from Gonçalo Ramos in the 90th minute, advancing to the next round. However, the statistics indicate a much more balanced contest than the score suggests.
Roberto Martinez's team controlled the match in terms of possession, passing game, and regional dominance. Croatia, despite having less possession, was more direct, more dangerous, and managed to get involved in the game, especially in the second half.
Gonçalo Ramos's goal in the 10th minute took Portugal to the next round, creating a very bitter end for Croatia.
Portugal Dominated Possession
Throughout the match:
Possession: 61% - 39%
Successful passes: 526 - 311
Total attacks: 117 - 66
Final three-passes: 90 - 23
These figures show that Portugal largely controlled the game.
Especially in the first half, Portugal completely dominated the game in Croatia's half.
In two periods of pressure between minutes 5-19 and 21-43:
8 shots
0.71 xG
despite being created, no goals were scored.
This situation underlines Portugal's biggest problem throughout the match:
Inability to finish what they create.
They Generated 2.23 xG but Struggled in Open Play
Portugal finished the match with 2.23 xG.
However, the distribution of this figure is quite interesting:
Open play: 0.45 xG
Set pieces: 1.43 xG
Transition attacks: 0.35 xG
In other words, 64% of Portugal's total xG came from set pieces.
This data is significant.
Because in a match where Portugal dominated possession so much, generating only 0.45 xG from open play shows that they struggled to find solutions against set defenses.
The fact that they only had 3 shots on target out of 15 also supports this picture.
Croatia Played More Directly
Croatia had less possession.
However, they were more effective in attack than expected.
14 shots
6 shots on target
1.29 xG
4 clear chances
created.
Even more interestingly:
82% of Croatia's 1.29 xG came from open play.
They didn't generate xG from transition attacks.
Set-piece contribution was only 0.23 xG.
This shows that Croatia was able to attack in an organized manner when they won the ball.
The pressing period between minutes 53-66 was one of the turning points of the match.
In this period:
2 shots
0.20 xG
1 goal
created.
The goal came at the end of this pressure.
Perišić Once Again Proves a Big Match Player
Ivan Perišić's goal in the 10th minute put Croatia ahead.
The 35-year-old player not only scored a goal.
7.16 rating
5 duels won
3 tackles
4 clearances
He delivered an effective two-way performance.
Perišić was once again one of his team's leaders, as he has been throughout the tournament.
Diogo Costa Was the Unsung Hero of the Match
Ronaldo and Ramos' names are on the scoreboard.
However, Diogo Costa played a major role in Portugal's advancement to the quarter-finals.
The Portuguese goalkeeper:
Made 5 saves.
5 of these came from inside the penalty area.
Conceded only 1 goal despite Croatia generating 1.20 xGoT.
He was one of the players who stood strong against Croatia's increasing pressure, especially in the final stages.
Ronaldo's Goal Restarted the Match
Cristiano Ronaldo didn't miss the penalty awarded in the 75th minute.
The Portuguese star finished the match with:
1 goal
0.83 xG
1 clear-cut chance
However, Ronaldo's impact in this match was less than some of his performances in the tournament.
Portugal tried to create attacking opportunities primarily through Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes, and movement from the wings.
Gonçalo Ramos Was Ready Again
Goncalo Ramos, who came on in the 10th minute, only played 28 minutes.
However:
2 shots
1 goal
7.51 rating
He became the hero of the match.
The header in the 10th minute created one of Portugal's most crucial moments in the tournament.
Sometimes in big tournaments, the difference is made not by the starting eleven players, but by those coming off the bench.
This match was an example of that.
What Do the Stats Say?
Portugal:
✅ 61% possession.
✅ 526 successful passes.
✅ 117 attacks.
✅ 90 passes in the final three.
However:
❌ Only managed to generate 0.45 xG in open play.
❌ Only 3 of 15 shots were on target.
❌ Despite dominating the game, they won the match in the final minute.
Croatia, on the other hand:
✅ Had 6 shots on target.
✅ Generated 1.29 xG.
✅ Created more danger with less possession.
❌ Lost defensive concentration in the final stages.
❌ Gained control of the game during a set-piece in the 90th minute.
Result
Portugal advanced to the quarter-finals.
However, this match showed that Roberto Martinez's team still has some question marks.
They can have possession.
They can pass.
They can push their opponents back into their own half.
But they are still not at an elite level in terms of creating chances in open play against closed defenses.
Croatia, once again, demonstrated just how dangerous a team they have become in tournament football.
