Portugal advances in World Cup
Portugal secured a 2-1 victory over Croatia in the World Cup 2026 last-32 match held in Toronto. The match saw a late surge from Portugal to clinch their spot in the next round, following a contentious game marked by VAR decisions and dramatic moments.
The opening goal of the match came from Croatia‘s veteran player, Ivan Perisic, who broke the deadlock in the second half. His goal put Croatia ahead, setting the stage for a tense encounter.
Portugal was awarded a penalty after Nikola Vlasic fouled Renato Veiga during a corner. Cristiano Ronaldo converted the penalty, scoring his first-ever World Cup knockout-stage goal. This goal also meant Ronaldo became the oldest player to score in the World Cup knockouts, surpassing a record previously held by his former teammate Pepe.
Before his penalty, Ronaldo had an equalizer disallowed for offside. He brought down a lofted ball and flicked it into the net, but the flag was raised. This incident occurred just minutes before his successful spot-kick.
Key moments and VAR interventions
The match was filled with critical moments and VAR interventions. Portugal‘s manager, Roberto Martinez, had reportedly considered substituting Ronaldo, with Goncalo Ramos, a Paris Saint-Germain striker, as a potential replacement. However, the disallowed goal may have influenced the decision to keep Ronaldo on the field, giving him the opportunity to score from the penalty spot.
Despite Ronaldo‘s goal, Croatia regained momentum and also had a goal disallowed for offside. This decision, which came late in the game, was attributed to a slight touch from Igor Matanovic, proving to be a decisive factor in the outcome. Some observers felt that the disallowed goal for Croatia was a harsh decision, with one comment suggesting it was a “faux offside” and that technology was getting in the way of fairness.
Ronaldo was eventually replaced with approximately 10 minutes remaining in the match. His substitution occurred during a period where Croatia appeared to be finding their rhythm.
The match saw a significant amount of discussion around VAR decisions. One instance involved a potential offside call on Pasalic, with questions raised about whether he was in an offside position when the ball was crossed. The use of a chip in the ball and soundscan technology was mentioned in determining whether a touch occurred, leading to the offside ruling.
Some comments from observers highlighted frustration with the technology, with one person stating, “Computer says no goal.” Another comment questioned the precision of offside calls, asking if “his nose hair puts him offside?” There was also a sentiment that VAR has made a “nonsense of the game.”
Dramatic finish and what’s next
The decisive goal for Portugal came in stoppage time when Goncalo Ramos, who had come off the bench, headed in a cross from Rafael Leao. This late goal broke Croatia‘s hopes of advancing and secured Portugal‘s win.
The final moments of the game were particularly dramatic, with Croatia appearing to have found an equalizer with the last kick of the game. However, VAR once again intervened, ruling the goal out for offside due to a minimal touch from Igor Matanovic.
The match also featured a moment of mutual respect between Ronaldo and Luka Modric, who shared a few words and embraced after the final whistle. Their combined international experience was noted as being in the 50-year range.
Portugal‘s performance in the first half was described as running circles around the Croatian team, though some felt their final passes lacked incisiveness. Concerns were also raised about Portugal‘s midfield, despite featuring players like Fernandes, João Neves, and Vitinha.
Following their victory, Portugal will now face Spain in the last-16 tie. Spain advanced after a 3-0 win over Austria on Thursday.
The match also included a moment where Portugal held up a jersey in honor of Diogo Jota, who passed away one year prior.
The game concluded with Portugal securing their place in the next round of the tournament.
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Source: theguardian.com
As News-GB.org's Sports Reporter, Eleanor Vance reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name on long-form athlete profiles. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Bath and completed an NCTJ diploma. Eleanor lives in Bath, where she swims competitively and follows British athletics. “A profile is only as good as the questions behind it.”