{"id":16740,"date":"2026-07-03T06:21:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T00:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=16740"},"modified":"2026-07-03T06:21:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T00:51:59","slug":"fifa-world-cup-2026-portugal-0-0-croatia-half-time-livakovic-stands-tall-as-croatia-weather-the-storm-at-bmo-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-portugal-0-0-croatia-half-time-livakovic-stands-tall-as-croatia-weather-the-storm-at-bmo-field\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Portugal 0\u20130 Croatia | Half-Time: Livakovi\u0107 Stands Tall as Croatia Weather the Storm at BMO Field"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Portugal and Croatia are level at 0\u20130 at the break in their FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Round of 32 tie at BMO Field in Toronto. The scoreline flatters Croatia. Portugal have dominated possession, nine shots, four corners \u2014 and have had the better chances by a significant margin. But Dominik Livakovi\u0107 has been in extraordinary form, and Croatia&#8217;s deep defensive block has absorbed everything Portugal have thrown at them so far.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-portugal-0-0-croatia-half-time-livakovic-stands-tall-as-croatia-weather-the-storm-at-bmo-field\/#Four_Minutes_In_%E2%80%94_and_Livakovic_Was_Already_the_Difference\" title=\"Four Minutes In \u2014 and Livakovi\u0107 Was Already the Difference\">Four Minutes In \u2014 and Livakovi\u0107 Was Already the Difference<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-portugal-0-0-croatia-half-time-livakovic-stands-tall-as-croatia-weather-the-storm-at-bmo-field\/#Ronaldo_Looking_for_One_More_Moment\" title=\"Ronaldo Looking for One More Moment\">Ronaldo Looking for One More Moment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-portugal-0-0-croatia-half-time-livakovic-stands-tall-as-croatia-weather-the-storm-at-bmo-field\/#Croatias_Plan_Is_Working_%E2%80%94_For_Now\" title=\"Croatia&#8217;s Plan Is Working \u2014 For Now\">Croatia&#8217;s Plan Is Working \u2014 For Now<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-portugal-0-0-croatia-half-time-livakovic-stands-tall-as-croatia-weather-the-storm-at-bmo-field\/#What_Needs_to_Happen\" title=\"What Needs to Happen\">What Needs to Happen<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>The second half will tell the full story. But after 45 minutes, it is Croatia who will feel the more satisfied.<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>Portugal vs Croatia is live now on ZEE 5 \u2014 stream the second half of this <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\"><i>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122<\/i><\/a><i> Round of 32 clash live in India with the <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\"><i>ZEE5 FIFA Subscription<\/i><\/a><i> Quarterly Plan at \u20b9799.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Four_Minutes_In_%E2%80%94_and_Livakovic_Was_Already_the_Difference\"><\/span><b>Four Minutes In \u2014 and Livakovi\u0107 Was Already the Difference<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/portugal\/portugal-squad\">Portugal<\/a> nearly settled this in the opening exchanges. Rafael Le\u00e3o burst down the left flank, picked out Bruno Fernandes with a clever pass inside the box, and Fernandes fired low toward goal. Livakovi\u0107 got down brilliantly to bat it away. The rebound fell straight back to Fernandes. His second attempt, from point-blank range, hit the legs of Marin Pongra\u010di\u0107 and went wide. Two shots, one moment \u2014 Croatia survived both.<\/p>\n<p>That double save in the 4th minute set the tone. Portugal were going to have chances. Livakovi\u0107 was going to be busy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ronaldo_Looking_for_One_More_Moment\"><\/span><b>Ronaldo Looking for One More Moment<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cristiano Ronaldo has been quiet by his standards, but he has had his moments. In the 9th minute, Pedro Neto whipped a dangerous cross from the right, and Ronaldo climbed high at the far post \u2014 his contested header drifted just wide. Four minutes after that, Portugal won a free-kick 25 metres out on the left. Ronaldo stood over it in his signature stance. He powered it directly into the wall. Croatia cleared. The crowd exhaled.<\/p>\n<p>Whether the moment comes in the second half remains to be seen. Croatia will know that keeping him contained for the next 45 minutes is no easy task.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Croatias_Plan_Is_Working_%E2%80%94_For_Now\"><\/span><b>Croatia&#8217;s Plan Is Working \u2014 For Now<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Croatia&#8217;s defensive structure has been disciplined and compact. They have sat deep, kept their shape, and relied on Livakovi\u0107 to deal with anything that breaks through. In the 33rd minute, Fernandes kept a high ball alive on the edge of the area and forced another tight-angle save \u2014 again, Livakovi\u0107. In the 40th minute, Nuno Mendes drove forward and unleashed a long-range effort that was comfortably blocked by the mass of Croatian bodies in front of the goal.<\/p>\n<p>The one concern for Portugal going into the break is R\u00faben Dias&#8217;s yellow card in the 17th minute. A tactical foul, a booking that now hangs over Portugal&#8217;s best defender for the remainder of the match. If Croatia can force a set-piece situation in the second half, that yellow card becomes relevant.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Needs_to_Happen\"><\/span><b>What Needs to Happen<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Portugal need a moment of individual quality to break this open. Budimir has been the most dangerous attacker for Croatia in the tournament so far \u2014 his pace and directness against is the clearest route to goal. Fernandes has been involved in everything but needs a cleaner connection. Ronaldo needs one more chance, one more delivery.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/croatia\/croatia-squad\">Croatia<\/a> needsneed Livakovi\u0107 to continue as he has started \u2014 and they need to find a way to carry the ball forward in the second half. They will need to threaten Diogo Costa more in this upcoming half. Sitting back for another 45 minutes will only add to the pressure. If they can steal a counter-attack, this tie could completely change.<\/p>\n<p>The second half is about to begin at BMO Field. Portugal have dominated everything except the scoreboard.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Don&#8217;t miss what happens next \u2014 Portugal vs Croatia continues live on ZEE 5, India&#8217;s official home of FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Portugal and Croatia are level at 0\u20130 at the break in their FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Round of 32 tie at BMO Field in Toronto. The scoreline flatters Croatia. Portugal have dominated possession, nine shots, four corners \u2014 and have had the better chances by a significant margin. But Dominik Livakovi\u0107 has been in extraordinary [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":16697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3031,3454,3358],"class_list":["post-16740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-portugal-vs-croatia-half-time-match-report","tag-round-of-32"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1132x400-52.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Portugal 0\u20130 Croatia | 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