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Portugal conclude their UEFA Nations League group-stage campaign with a game against Croatia on Monday.
Roberto Martinez's team were eliminated on penalties by France at the quarterfinal stage of Euro 2024 in Germany, with Cristiano Ronaldo unable to inspire his team to win the trophy for the second time in three tournaments.
They began their Nations League campaign in September with two 2-1 victories over Croatia and Scotland in League A Group 1, before beating Poland and drawing with Steve Clarke's team last month.
A 3-1 win over Poland in November guaranteed that they will win the group and qualify for the quarterfinals, making their meeting with Croatia a dead rubber from their perspective. However, given Ronaldo's determination to extend his record goal tally at international level, it's rare that the veteran is given a whole night off.
The Sporting News has the latest lineup information and whether Ronaldo is involved in their latest game.
MORE: All the latest soccer action | Cristiano Ronaldo news
Is Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal today?
Ronaldo is not in the starting lineup or on the bench for Portugal's game with Croatia today.
With qualification for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals assured, coach Roberto Martinez elected to hand some fringe players the chance to impress.
Croatia vs. Portugal lineups, team news
Joao Felix and Rafael Leao line up in a front two in Ronaldo's absence, with Martinez appearing to experiment with a 3-5-2.
Portugal XI (3-5-2, right to left): Sa (GK) — Araujo, Veiga, N. Mendes — N. Semedo, Otavio, J. Neves, Vitinha, Cancelo — Leao, Joao Felix
Portugal subs: A. Silva, Dalot, S. Costa, Quenda, Trincao, F. Silva, Djalo, Conceicao, R. Silva
Croatia, knowing that avoiding defeat will be enough for them to claim second in the group, have gone with a more defensive mindset.
Croatia XI (5-4-1, right to left): Livakovic (GK) — Perisic, Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol, Sosa — Kramaric, Modric, Kovacic, Baturina — Matanovic
Croatia subs: Jakic, Pongracic, Moro, Budimir, Kotarski, Vlasic, Mario Pasalic, Marco Pasalic, Orsic, Pjaca, L. Sucic, Ivusic
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