European Championship qualification
Portugal wins 9-0 – Kramaric secures Croatia’s success
Portugal clearly prevailed against Luxembourg. photo
© Joao Matos/AP
Even without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal achieved a resounding victory in the European Championship qualification. Coach Roberto Martínez’s team secured their sixth win in their sixth qualifying game and easily beat Luxembourg 9-0 (4-0).
Gonçalo Inácio (12th minute/45th+4), Gonçalo Ramos (17th/33rd), Diogo Jota (57th/77th), Ricardo Horta (67th), Bruno Fernandes (83rd) and João Félix ( 88.) ensured the clear success of the Seleção. The Portuguese are now on the direct path to the 2024 European Championship in Germany and comfortably lead the Group J table with 18 points ahead of Slovakia (13).
Croatia has also come another step closer to next year’s tournament thanks to Andrej Kramaric. The Bundesliga striker from TSG Hoffenheim secured his team a 1-0 (1-0) win in Armenia. The 32-year-old had already scored the decisive goal in the 14th minute. With the win, the Croatians have taken the lead in Group D.