Two different ways through the group
Portugal came first in Group K, but the run was uneven. They hammered Uzbekistan 5-0, yet drew their opener 1-1 with DR Congo and finished 0-0 against Colombia. Five of their six goals came in a single match; the other two produced none. What held up was the defence — one goal conceded across three games. Croatia went the other way. They lost their opener 4-2 to England in an open, back-and-forth game, then steadied with a 1-0 win over Panama and a 2-1 win over Ghana. Five scored, five conceded.
Control or swings
The contrast is the reason to watch. Portugal keep the back door shut but have only clicked going forward once. Croatia can score, but their defence has already leaked four in a single match. Does Portugal's cautious game management carry the tie, or does Croatia pull it open into the kind of shootout they were part of against England? In a knockout, once the game opens up it rarely closes again.
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