Ronaldo and Modric face World Cup farewell as Portugal meet Croatia in last-32

Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric are set to face a potential international swansong when Portugal take on Croatia in the World Cup round of 32 at Toronto Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for midnight.

Both players are widely expected to be making their final World Cup appearances, lending the fixture a weight that extends well beyond the usual knockout-stage stakes. The winner will advance to the last 16, where Spain await after their resounding victory over Austria on Thursday.

Mark Chapman presents studio coverage from Salford, joined by a panel of Lucas Leiva, Theo Walcott and Rachel Corsie.

Lucas spent a decade at Liverpool, where he became a cult figure despite lifting only one major honour, before enjoying greater success at Lazio — winning the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup twice during a five-season spell with the Rome club.

Walcott made history in 2006 when he became England’s youngest-ever senior international at 17, and was subsequently named in that year’s World Cup squad. The winger spent 12 years at Arsenal, claiming two FA Cup winners’ medals, before later stints at Everton and Southampton.

Corsie brings a different perspective to the panel. One of Scotland’s most-capped women’s players with 155 appearances across a 19-year career, she was part of the squad that won the 2020 Pinatar Cup and featured in seven Scottish Women’s Premier League title-winning sides with Glasgow City. She also accumulated experience in the NWSL, the Women’s Super League and the A-League Women.

Match of the Day commentator Steve Wilson will call the action, with former Liverpool and England defender Stephen Warnock alongside him in the commentary box.