Usually, there are two possible outcomes when play-off stage matches are played, but Croatia is anything but ordinary.
There are less than nine hours left until the kick-off for the quarter-final EURO 2016 match between Croatia and Portugal. The game is to be played in Lens, a venue so dear to Croatian football supporters, as this was the city where the legendary ‘98 national team started its path to the bronze medal. On June 25, 2016, exactly 25 years after Croatia pronounced its statehood, the heirs of that team will try to come out of the shadow of that bronze.
When big football tournaments reach the play-off stage, there can be only two outcomes; either the team loses, or it wins, but with events surrounding this team, there is one more possible outcome, and that is the suspension of the match, a result planned by those who want to hurt the Croatian Football Federation.
So, let’s see the possible scenarios for the Croatian team at tonight’s game, and our prediction of the possibility for the each.
Scenario 1 - Croatia wins - 50%
We rate this as the most possible scenario because we think that Croatia simply has the better team than Portugal. As much we have the utmost respect for Cristiano Ronaldo, we have trust in Ivan Perišić, who we see as a younger and “hungrier” version of CR7. Also, the Croatian midfield line looks stronger than the Portuguese one, and the form of the team points to a Croatian advantage.
After the match, Croatians will celebrate with streams of beer. Croatia will be euphoric even more, especially as today is The Statehood Day. The team will be praised, as will the coach Čačić, deservedly.
Scenario 2 - Croatia loses - 49,9%
We see Croatia as the favorite, of course, but Portugal has the right to expect a win. Since 1996, the Portuguese team has reached two quarter-finals, two semi-finals, and one final at the EUROs. In the same period, Croatia’s best success were two quarter-finals. Although we adore Perišić and Modrić, Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players of all time. Not to be forgotten, Croatia has lost all three previous encounters with Portugal and has not scored a single goal.
After the match, Croatians will drown their sorrow in streams of beer, and life will go on, until the next historic match.
Scenario 3 - Suspension of the game - 0,01%
We don’t see this as a huge possibility, but it has to be mentioned. Those people fighting against the Croatian Football Officials are not content, and they are not to be written off. Croatian police are doing everything in its power to help the French authorities to prevent this scenario.
After the match, outraged Croatians will drown their sorrow in streams of beer, and life will go on, until the next historic match.
