Spain are finally looking like the team that won the Euro two years ago again. The 3-0 win over Austria made quite a statement and left the impression that this World Cup is not necessarily going to be a parade for France. “Today’s performance should be the basis for what comes next,” said Luis de la Fuente. Next up in Dallas on July 6 is Portugal, who managed to beat Croatia in a wild game in Toronto.
Late on, Ronaldo scored his first World Cup knockout goal but was bravely replaced by Roberto Martinez late in the game. Unexpectedly, Gonçalo Ramos proved to be the hero, winning as the game progressed and keeping Portugal in the competition. His header likely ended Luka Modric’s World Cup career. The AC Milan midfielder, Ramos’ future team-mate, won the Ballon d’Or after leading Croatia to the final in 2018. He then helped the country of fewer than 4 million people return to the semi-finals four years later in Qatar.
“Well, it was probably his last World Cup,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. “And I’m sorry it ended this way. Very sad, but a defeat. Luka played in the second half and again became one of our key players. I’m very sorry it ended this way. He showed his quality and his character and led Croatia until the end.”
Switzerland became the third European nation to achieve success after Thursday’s games, beating Algeria 2-0 in Vancouver with opening goals in each half from Brill Embolo and Dan Ndoye. The Swiss will remain in Vancouver and will play Colombia or Ghana on July 7.
Round 22 results
Spain – Austria 3:0
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
Switzerland 2-0 Algeria
Is Ronaldo not done yet?
Four years ago in Qatar, Gonçalo Ramos offered a glimpse of what Portugal’s future might look like without Cristiano Ronaldo. The then Benfica striker took his place against Switzerland and took his chance. He scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win and just like that, rather prematurely, Ronaldo’s World Cup career was declared over. In Toronto on Thursday night he was still in the lead, showing why that’s not the case. At least for now.
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Portugal’s performance in the round of 16 against a treacherous Croatia was one of Ronaldo’s best performances at the World Cup. Oddly enough for him and his high standards, that’s a pretty low bar. Ronaldo justified his choice by scoring his first knockout equalizing goal in his sixth World Cup. It came from the penalty spot rather than open play, although Ronaldo had previously seen a goal disallowed for the narrowest of offsides. It was a pity, because the 41-year-old football player deftly knocked the ball down and then threw it over the goalkeeper.
Ronaldo scores brilliantly but the goal is disallowed (Photo: Kamil Krzacinski/AFP via Getty Images)
Having played every minute of the World Cup, Ronaldo expected to stay there until the end. Portugal needed a goal, and whenever it needed one over the past two decades, it almost always turned to him. So it came as something of a shock when coach Martinez replaced him with Ruben Neves in the 81st minute. Ronaldo looked momentarily confused but Martinez’s changes, which began with the previous quadruple change, including the removal of Vitinha, were bold.
“When you need a late goal, you can call Goncal Ramos,” said, er, Ramos. Milan’s new club record finish was capped by Rafa Leao’s delightful cross, perhaps a sign that all will be well under Ruben Amorim at the San Siro next season. Ramos knows better than to think that he has taken Ronaldo’s place in the Portugal team. But these are probably Ronaldo’s last games at the World Cup.
In the end, the past experience must have flashed before his eyes. Croatia disallowed one goal after another, first by Petar Sučić, then by Josko Guardiol. When Diogo Costa scored the final goal in stoppage time, Ronaldo must have feared the worst. Nobody wants to go to extra time and penalties with Croatia. The on-field review prevented this outcome and Ronaldo, relieved and powerless to influence events off the field, celebrated the news.
Ronaldo points to the sky wearing his late teammate’s number (Photo: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Overall, it was a night of mixed emotions for him. He was happy to score. I’m surprised I pulled away. I went through with pleasure. Emotional about Diogo Jota. His eyes filled with tears as he put on Jota’s old ’21 jersey, took it off and held it up for a team photo. Today is the anniversary of the deaths of Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident. “We knew it before the game. It was a special moment,” Ronaldo told FOX. “We’re talking today, our group, about this. The coincidence of life. I was amazed because today’s situation means a lot to us.”
Why not Spain?
After the US destroyed Bosnia in Santa Clara, the atmosphere behind the scenes at Fox was wild. Landon Donovan turned to Carli Lloyd and was understandably carried away. He repeated Mauricio Pochettino’s phrase: “Why not us?” Admitting that he had “been so stressed out in the last 15 minutes that my hair extensions fell off,” Donovan quickly changed his tune. He didn’t understand why the US couldn’t go all the way. Here’s one reason why: Spain. If the U.S. beats disappointing Belgium in Seattle and Spain avenges its defeat to Portugal in last summer’s Nations League final, the quarterfinal between them in Los Angeles on July 10 should surely be the biggest test yet of the “Why not us?” mantra.
On Thursday, Spain put in perhaps its most complete performance of the tournament against Austria. Overall, perhaps better than some of the combinations from France’s unstoppable attack. La Roja didn’t miss a single shot on target and had 65 percent possession in their convincing 3-0 win over SoFi. Mikel Oyarzabal may not be like the other leading strikers in the tournament. He remained in San Sebastian with Real Sociedad even after scoring Spain’s 86th-minute winner in the 2024 European Championship final against England. Don’t sleep on it.
Oyarzabal now has four goals in the fight for the Golden Boot (Harry How/Getty Images)
The victory meant coach Luis de la Fuente is still unbeaten in a knockout stage match at a major tournament and appears to indicate Spain’s rise in the tournament. More so than the USA, they look like the most likely team to stop France if both countries reach the semi-finals. Talking to AthleticPablo Zabaleta, now a member of FIFA’s research group, said: “The best way to defend against France is to have the ball and not let France have the ball. There are only a few teams that can do that. It could be Spain. It could be Argentina. Teams that can have long possession are against them.”
As you remember, Spain followed up their victory at the Euro in 2008 by winning the World Cup in 2010. Oyarzabal’s goal, absolutely incredible by the way, was Spain’s first goal in the knockout stages of this tournament since Andres Iniesta’s euphoric shirtless tribute to Dani Jarque in the final against the Netherlands in Johannesburg. Will history repeat itself?
Is Manzambi a rising star?
One of the discoveries of the World Cup was undoubtedly Johan Manzambi.
A midfielder number 9, he plays for the Swiss national team because Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler are guarantees at the heart of the team. Initially used as a substitute by Murat Yakin, the 20-year-old made such an impact when he came on that his manager came under pressure to find a way to get him into the starting line-up. Manzambi scored twice against Bosnia, including an over-the-shoulder volley, to beat hosts Canada.
On Thursday, he drove into the Algeria penalty box, left a defender behind him and then took the ball back for Brill Embolo to shoot home. A member of the Freiburg team that reached the Conference League final, his versatility was also demonstrated against Crystal Palace, where he played as a more advanced midfielder than usual, covering for the injured Yuito Suzuki.
Manzambi didn’t need a good World Cup to spark interest from a host of Premier League clubs. He has already received it, and now Freiburg must anticipate the auction. Along with Moroccan Ayoub Bouaddi, he is one of the most coveted young players in the tournament.
What you need to know about Friday games
Lionel Messi playing at home. For the first time at the World Cup, he returns to Miami to take part in Argentina’s round of 16 match against Cape Verde, which is currently the tournament opener.
Few are expecting a shock, but as Lionel Scaloni warned in his pre-match press conference, Argentina cannot take things too lightly. Memories of defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening match four years ago linger, even though Argentina won the World Cup, retained the Copa America and defeated Italy in the Finalissima.
This is also Scaloni’s 100th game for the La Albiceleste. No one – neither Carlos Bilardo nor Cesar Luis Menotti – has achieved such successful leadership of the national team. While much of the success has been attributed to Messi, credit must be given to Scaloni for finding a way to get the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner to prove himself for both his country and his clubs.
Elsewhere, Egypt sweats it out at Mohamed Salah’s fitness routine in Kansas City. Salah needed to be substituted in Egypt’s 1-1 draw with Iran in their final group stage match with a hamstring strain. The 34-year-old, who left Liverpool at the end of last season, is in the squad to face Australia but it is unclear whether he will start.
The day ends with Colombia taking on Ghana in Dallas. Nestor Lorenzo’s side have impressed so far and should have won all their group games. They drew 0-0 with Portugal because Davinson Sanchez had a goal disallowed due to the slightest foul. His big toe was offside. “Next time I’ll ask him for a pedicure,” Lorenzo laughed.
Ghana will be a tough nut to crack. If the Black Stars defend as resolutely against Colombia as they did against England, they could be late and follow the example of Germany-Paraguay and the Netherlands-Morocco in penalties.
Today’s games
Australia – Egypt (14:00 ET; 19:00 Moscow time)
Argentina – Cape Verde (18:00 ET; 23:00 Moscow time)
Colombia – Ghana (21:30 ET; 2:30 Moscow time)