Portugal Advances with a Narrow Victory
Portugal secured a spot in the round of 16 after a thrilling 2-1 victory against Croatia in Toronto. The first half concluded without any goals, but the second half brought plenty of action. Ivan Perišić opened the scoring for Croatia in the 53rd minute.
Portugal responded quickly, leveling the score with a penalty kick goal by Cristiano Ronaldo, marking his first goal in a World Cup knockout round. The match seemed to head into extra time until Portugal’s Gonçalo Ramos scored the decisive goal in the 94th minute. A potential equalizer by Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol was nullified due to an offside call.
This match potentially marked the end of World Cup appearances for Croatia’s Luka Modrić, who is 40 years old. Meanwhile, Portugal moves forward to face Spain in Dallas on Monday. The winner will take on either the United States or Belgium on July 10.
Other Weekend Matches
In other matches, Spain comfortably defeated Austria 3-0, continuing its strong form. Meanwhile, Switzerland claimed its first knockout match win since 1938 by beating Algeria 2-0.
Argentina Set to Face Cape Verde
Today, Argentina is up against Cape Verde in Miami. Cape Verde has succeeded in reaching the round of 32 despite not winning a match, drawing all three group games. Conversely, Argentina won all its group matches, with Lionel Messi playing a pivotal role.
Despite being heavy favorites, Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni has emphasized the importance of respecting Cape Verde, acknowledging their strengths and accomplishments.
If Argentina progresses, they will face the winner of Australia vs. Egypt, which takes place in Dallas.
Today’s Matches to Watch
Catch all the exciting World Cup action on Telemundo and Peacock. Games are scheduled as follows (Eastern Time):
- 2 p.m.: Australia vs. Egypt
- 6 p.m.: Argentina vs. Cape Verde
- 9:30 p.m.: Colombia vs. Ghana
Stay tuned for more updates on Monday.