Reproduce tactics used against Spain to beat Portugal: Croatia's Rakitic

Croatian attacking midfielder Ivan Rakitic said on Friday that they are capable of beating Portugal in the Euro football championship pre-quarterfinal on Saturday if they used the same tactics produced against Spain on Tuesday.

The Barcelona player said in an interview with the Serbian daily Blic that they "must use the same recipe as against Spain", the clash which Croatia won 2-1, reports Efe.

"We must provide maximum effort, enter the game with 100 per cent motivation and die for every ball," he added.

Rakitic explained that his team is aware that it is going to face one of the world's best players, but said "Cristiano Ronaldo cannot win without the rest of the (Portugal) team. I was ahead of him and Real Madrid with Barcelona, I hope for the same outcome at the European Championship."

"We don't think about the trophy, but go step-by-step and I think we're powerful enough to eliminate Portugal," the 28-year-old added.

--IANS

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