Portugal clinch dramatic…

TORONTO — In a nod to Euro 2016, when Portugal captured its first major trophy without a sidelined Cristiano Ronaldo, the team advanced in his final World Cup, as the 41-year-old remained on the bench.

Portugal secured a 2-1 victory against Croatia, ensuring that one of two legends—either Ronaldo or Croatia’s 40-year-old Luka Modric—was playing in what was sure to be his last World Cup match, though both had limited impact amidst a match filled with dramatic moments.

Gonçalo Ramos, stepping into the forward role following Ronaldo’s substitution in the 81st minute, scored a header over two Croatian defenders four minutes into stoppage time, giving Portugal the lead. In the dying moments, Croatia seemed poised to equalize with a goal from Josko Gvardiol, but it was ruled offside—making it their third disallowed goal of the evening.

In protest of the disallowed goal, Croatian fans hurled empty water bottles onto the field, yet Portugal held on for the win and will face Spain on Monday after the defending European champions dominated Austria with a 3-0 victory earlier in the day.

Throughout the match, momentum shifted back and forth; Croatia often found their footing during breaks, while Portugal ramped up their pressure afterwards.

“We defended well,” said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić post-game. “We didn’t concede many chances and at times had the upper hand, creating several opportunities. We didn’t deserve to lose like this in the end. Congratulations to Portugal. I regret our elimination, but that’s football; luck sometimes evades you.”

Croatia broke the deadlock with a goal from Ivan Perisic in the 53rd minute. However, after a Ronaldo penalty was disallowed for offside, Croatia faltered by conceding a corner and then a penalty, resulting from a foul by Nikola Vlasic on Renato Veiga inside the box. Ronaldo converted the penalty and exited shortly after.

Ramos excelled in Ronaldo’s absence, continuing a trend from earlier in the competition. He previously scored a hat trick during his first World Cup start in Portugal’s 6-1 triumph over Switzerland in 2022, and has accumulated an impressive tally of nine goals and two assists in 701 minutes across FIFA and UEFA competitions.

Portugal’s coach Roberto Martínez showcased adaptability in his lineup, notably substituting Ronaldo—a shift from the group stage—and giving Rafael Leão his first start of the tournament.

Leão, a player known for his feast-or-famine style on the pitch, sometimes struggled with his duels, losing seven of eight attempts. Nevertheless, he led the team with 10 progressive carries over a distance of 276 meters and also matched the team high with five ball recoveries, two in the attacking third.

His significant contributions included hitting the post in the 58th minute after a brilliant solo effort, followed by an exquisite lob during the match’s pivotal moments. Though Portugal’s attack was stymied at times throughout the group stage, Leão’s energy injected new life into it.

Both Ronaldo and Modric contributed during the match: Ronaldo scored his penalty and completed 12 passes in the attacking third, while Modric orchestrated play with 66 touches, making three tackles and delivering dangerous corners in the second half.

“Luka played exceptionally well,” Dalić commented. “Once again, he was among our most crucial players. It is disappointing for him to end this way. He consistently demonstrated his character and quality, leading Croatia until the final whistle.”

Martinez praised Modric, noting, “He plays with the finesse of a younger player, demonstrating exceptional decision-making during the game. He exemplifies the mental aspect of football rarely discussed. He inspires countless young players; his legacy in football will endure.”

Another prominent veteran, the 37-year-old Perisic, played a pivotal role in Croatia’s resurgence during the second half and became one of only six players to score in four separate World Cups, alongside Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose, Pelé, and Uwe Seeler.

However, this likely marks the end for Modric, Perisic, and a generation of Croatian soccer. Dalić expressed uncertainty about his future with the federation, saying, “I have no comment. We will address that later,” directing attention to the promising younger talent, including 22-year-old Petar Sucic from Internazionale and 23-year-old Martin Baturina of Como, both of whom scored in this tournament.

As for Portugal, their journey continues, with their next challenger being a familiar foe.

“We are well-acquainted with Spain, and vice versa,” Martínez said. “It should be an exciting match, with both teams eager to possess the ball, attack, regain possession quickly, and create opportunities. It promises to be a thrilling encounter.”

Portugal and Spain have battled seven times over the past 15 years, with all but one of those matches ending in either a draw or a penalty shootout. Their latest clash in the UEFA Nations League final last summer saw Spain take the lead twice with goals from Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal, but Portugal quickly equalized, first through Nuno Mendes and then Ronaldo. All four players are expected to participate on Monday.