2026 World Cup - Croatia: Zlatko Dalic fears Ronaldo and Portugal

02.07.26 FT World Cup

Portugal

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Croatia

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Croatia's head coach, Zlatko Dalic, faced the media ahead of the round of 16 clash against Portugal.

Hours before this 2026 World Cup showdown, the coach voiced his concerns, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner squarely in the spotlight during his press conference. "(Cristiano) Ronaldo can score at any moment, he's dangerous," Dalic declared before breaking down the quality of a squad whose players almost all ply their trade in Europe.

"This is one of the best organizations in the world. They have an excellent coach who is doing a fantastic job—he proved it in Belgium and now in Portugal. They have Ronaldo, who can strike at any time, and Portugal's greatest strength lies in their technical game and ball possession. They excel in this area, they are capable of so much, and this is a team that is always looking to take the initiative. When you analyze this squad, you simply don't see any weaknesses," he added.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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