The Round of 16 is almost done and the Quarterfinalists almost decided, and boy did we have some cracking matches on tap. Canada bowed out to a 3-0 Morocco win while France managed to squeak 1-0 past Paraguay (who didn’t even bother playing football). Then came Norway’s massive upset, sending five-time winners Brazil packing and Neymar Jr. into retirement before England emerged 3-2 victors against Mexico at the Azteca, claimed to be one of the most difficult venues to play in due to its elevation
above sea level. Mexico only ever lost two competitive games before then: against Costa Rica in 2001 and against Honduras in 2013, both World Cup qualifying matches.
The Monday schedule included the Iberian derby in the form of Portugal vs. Spain, followed by the United States vs. Belgium which is shrouded in controversy with the whole Folarin Balogun suspension being overturned thing dominating the news. We won’t worry about that because we’re here to watch football on the pitch, so let’s see what happened in those games.
The Iberian derby: It’s now or never for Ronaldo and Portugal
These two nations have faced each other 41 times in the past, dating back to 1921 when Spain beat Portugal 3-1 in Madrid. The last meeting between the two was the 2025 UEFA Nations League final in Munich, which Portugal won 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Mikel Oyarzabal fired the first good attempt on goal that Diogo Costa saved easily, while his second chance saw him fire wide of the goal after Dani Olmo played the Real Sociedad winger through on goal. Cristiano Ronaldo soon had his attempt saved by Unai Simón, while a succession of Portuguese corner kicks came to nothing.
Twenty minutes had passed and both nations have made several chances that couldn’t be converted. Thirty minutes had passed and the deadlock was still intact. In the 37th minute, João Félix and Ronaldo both had chances to score but Unai Simón managed to stop both, including a cheeky lob from Ronaldo that the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper had to dive for to catch. Nuno Mendes had a pop from distance, and it was deflected by Pedro Porro off the crossbar and into play, the game is still 0-0 and that’s how it stayed until halftime.
After the restart, both teams continued to trade blows as chances went begging. Another hydration break has passed, and the match is still scoreless. Mendes had to come off due to injury, which shifted the game into Spain’s favor. Bruno Fernandes tried a difficult shot with a defender pressuring him, and it nearly went in, going just wide of Unai Simón’s post. Both sides can’t get over the hump, a.k.a. the goal that would open the floodgates. Diogo Costa parries another cross into his box, while another Spanish attack had a potential handball which ended up being a non-contact (the defender with the ball) incident. A goal is coming, but who will score it? It’s Spain! Mikel Merino got on the end of a through pass by Ferran Torres from a series of passes and fired his attempt past Diogo Costa in the Portuguese net to give Spain the lead in the first of six second half stoppage time minutes. Bernardo Silva had a glorious chance to equalize at the death, but he heads underneath the ball, and the header went out for a goal kick. João Neves had a last gasp header go out, which sealed Spain’s progression and Portugal’s elimination.
A distraught and devastated Ronaldo after the final whistle was the defining picture of this matchup. Some said it’s his last ever match for Portugal ever, not just the World Cup. As someone who isn’t particularly fond of the 41-year-old, it does pain me to see a modern great of the game bow out without winning a World Cup (like Neymar with Brazil). The former Real Madrid great said he was “at peace” with the result and his international career and vows to move forward with a clear conscience as he tries to come to terms with Portugal’s elimination.
Belgium blitzes the USMNT early on the way to rout
A few days ago there was a post discussing the USMNT’s historical record against the top 10 teams and its record against Belgium. Let’s just say history hasn’t been kind to the Stars and Stripes because it hasn’t beaten a top 10 team in 11 years and last won against Belgium in the 1930 World Cup. With Canada and Mexico already eliminated, the United States is the last host country with any chance of progressing to the quarterfinals.
Just 43 seconds into the match, Timothy Castagne fired a distant shot destined for the top left corner that Matt Freese stopped. It wasn’t a goal (yet), but it’s not an ideal start for the co-hosts. In the ninth minute, Alex Freeman’s header went only as far as Nicolas Raskin, who dribbled past Chris Richards and laid the ball on a silver platter for Charles De Ketelaere who duly finished the chance and give Belgium the lead.
Amadou Onana would exit the game due to an injury after a clash with Christian Pulisic, but the Belgians’ woes would pile up after Malik Tillman scored yet another brilliant free kick after half an hour played; the ball deflected off Hans Vanaken which completely wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois in the Belgian goal. The Red Devils decided enough is enough and got another goal 116 seconds after Tillman’s goal: Leandro Trossard ran down the left wing and crossed it to De Ketelaere who beat Tim Ream to the ball and head home Belgium’s second goal.
Ten minutes after the restart, a long pass from the Belgian defence made it all the way to the USMNT’s box where Freese rushed out to stop De Ketelaere from getting the ball. However, the 27-year-old American shot stopper hesitated before clearing the ball. This allowed De Ketelaere to steal the ball back and lay it off to Vanaken who made no mistake despite the distance to the goal and Ream’s attempt at stopping the shot. It was a costly error from Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Sebastian Berhalter, who replaced Pulisic after the hour mark, had a decent chance from outside the box that Courtois managed to save. Ten minutes before time, Folarin Balogun too had a scoring opportunity after beating Mechele for pace, but his effort was foiled by Courtois. In stoppage time, Chris Richards lost possession just outside his box after he passed the ball straight to Vanaken. Romelu Lukaku, who was subbed on in the 66th minute, scored with a low shot to the far post with his weaker right foot. It was another costly error made by the USMNT.
The final whistle has gone to seal the fate of the United States as the third and final co-host to be eliminated in the space of three days. With Argentina-Egypt and Colombia-Switzerland left to play, we will soon find out the last eight teams for this World Cup.
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