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regular-article-logo Wednesday, 03 July 2024

European Championship: Luka Modric scores penalty to help Croatia beat Portugal 2-1, Cristiano Ronaldo rests

It was Croatia's last game before they open tournament against three-time winners Spain on June 15, they are in a tough Group B along with Italy and Albania

AP/PTI, Reuters Lisbon Published 10.06.24, 10:45 AM
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo (left), in this picture shared by Euro2024 on X, catches up with former Real Madrid teammate and Croatia counterpart Luka Modric after the warm-up match in Lisbon on Saturday

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo (left), in this picture shared by Euro2024 on X, catches up with former Real Madrid teammate and Croatia counterpart Luka Modric after the warm-up match in Lisbon on Saturday

Luka Modric scored a penalty to help Croatia beat Portugal 2-1 in a friendly on Saturday as they prepare for the European Championship.

It was Croatia's last game before they open the tournament against three-time winners Spain on June 15. They are in a tough Group B along with Italy and Albania.

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Portugal have one more friendly — against Ireland on Tuesday — before they start the competition against Georgia on June 18. Portugal are the favourites in Group F that also includes Turkey and the Czech Republic.

Cristiano Ronaldo never left Portugal's bench, with coach Roberto Martinez tapping Goncalo Ramos to spear his attack.

Ronaldo joined Portugal on Friday after finishing his club campaign with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The 39-year-old is set to make a record sixth appearance at the European Championship. Men's football all-time leading scorer with 128 goals, Ronaldo helped Portugal win the European title in 2016.

Modric beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa to open the scoring in the eighth minute at Portugal's National Stadium near Lisbon. The 38-year-old Real Madrid midfielder was sent to the penalty spot after Vitinha fouled Mateo Kovacic in the area.

Modric was substituted in the 54th.

Pedri's first Spain strolled to a 5-1 win over Northern Ireland in Palma de Mallorca as midfielder Pedri scored twice in their final warm-up match.The visitors took a shock lead two minutes into the game when defender Daniel Ballard headed home a long free kick from Caolan Boyd-Munce.

Spain dominated the match, however, and levelled through a Pedri strike from distance in the 12th minute, his first international goal, before Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Pedri again put the hosts 4-1 up at the break.

Mikel Oyarzabal sealed the win for the three-times European champions in the 60th minute, bundling in Lamine Yamal's pass.

"Above all, I'm very happy for the match, for the team's reaction. (But also) very happy to make my scoring debut, I was looking forward to scoring here," said Pedri.

"I've worked hard during the season, I've had several mishaps but I've worked hard to get to the end of it.

"With the goal it has been seen that the injury is behind me. Physically, I feel very well, looking forward to the Euros and happy to be here."

The 21-year-old Barcelona player struggled with injury problems last season.

Lukaku double

Romelu Lukaku extended his Belgium scoring record as they ended their preparations with a 3-0 win over neighbours Luxembourg in Brussels.

Lukaku netted a 42nd-minute penalty for his 84th international goal and tapped in a second after being set up by Jeremy Doku’s jinking run down the left and square pass.

Leandro Trossard added the third 10 minutes from time.

Belgium made a fast start, but Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku were denied opportunities to open the scoring by a determined Luxembourg defence.

Denmark wrapped up their preparations with a 3-1 win over Norway at Brondby Stadium that saw Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg score for the third international game in a row, with Erling Haaland grabbing a consolation goal for the visitors.

Midfielder Hojbjerg got the proceedings underway with a 12th-minute strike from his powerful right foot, and the Danes added a second when defender Jannick Vestergaard headed home Andreas Skov Olsen's corner nine minutes later.

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