Croatia vs. Portugal lineups, predicted starting 11, team news and injuries: Ronaldo removed by Martinez as Modric leads hosts

Portugal and Croatia will close out their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaigns with a clash in Split on November 18.

Roberto Martinez's side have already secured top spot in League A Group 1 with four wins and a draw from five games played, with Croatia behind them in second place.

Portugal will be handed a seeded spot for December's quarterfinal draw, with games scheduled for March 2025, and Croatia will be unseeded as a group-stage runner up.

MORE: UEFA Nations League fixtures, results, schedule and format for European international football competition

Croatia vs. Portugal lineups, expected starting 11, team news

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic is expected to make changes to his starting team following a shock 1-0 loss away in Scotland last week as Aston Villa captain John McGinn netted a late winner.

Petar Sucic will miss out through suspension, after being sent off in Glasgow, and veterans Ivan Perisic and Mario Pasalic could be recalled to the starting line up.

Captain and Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric completed 90 minutes against Scotland but should lead his national team once again.

Croatia predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Livakovic (GK) — Jakic, Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol — Modric, Kovacic — Perisic, Pasalic, Baturina — Kramaric.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Dominic, Kotarsi, Domink Livakovic, Nediljko Labrovic, Ivica Ivusic.

Defenders: Marin Pongracic, Josko Gvardiol, Duje Caltea-Car, Josip Sutalo, Borna Sosa.

Midfielders: Nikolo Moro, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Nikola Vlasic, Mario Pasalic, Martin Baturina, Luka Sucic.

Forwards: Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Marco Pasalic, Mislav Orsic, Marko Pjaca, Igor Matanovic, Ante Budimir.

MORE: All the latest EPL club news | Team-by-team Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings

With top spot in the group already wrapped up, Martinez has confirmed his call to release four player from the Portugal squad, including captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has headed back to Al Nassr, with Martinez looking to try out new players, as Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto return early for Premier League duty.

Joao Felix and Vitinha are amongst those who could be elevated to a starting role following the 5-1 midweek win over Poland.

Portugal predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Costa (GK) — Dalot, Silva, Veiga, Mendes — Neves, Vitinha, Costa — Trincao, Felix, Leao.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva,

Defenders: Nelson Semedo, Tomas Araujo, Antonio Silva, Diogo Dalot, Renato Veiga, Nuno Tavares, Nuno Mendes, Joao Cancelo, Tiago Djalo.

Midfielders: Samu Costa, Joao Neves, Otavio, Vitinha.

Forwards: Francisco Trincao, Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, Francisco Conceicao, Fabio Silva, Geovany Quenda.

Croatia vs. Portugal live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this UEFA Nations League match across selected areas of the world's major regions: