Portugal cut it close against Croatia on Thursday night in Toronto, but a win’s a win. Goncalo Ramos scored the game-winner with a clutch header in the fourth minute of stoppage time, giving Portugal a 2-1 victory in a wild Round of 32 match at BMO Field.
Croatia struck first through legendary winger Ivan Perisic just after halftime, but Cristiano Ronaldo pulled Portugal level in the second half with a penalty in the 68th minute. It was Ronaldo’s first-ever goal in the knockout rounds of a World Cup, and one that tied him for ninth place in the all-time World Cup scoring list with 11 career goals.
Croatia thought they’d tied it back up late through defender Josko Gvardiol, but VAR ruled it offside and waved it off in a controversial late, deciding call. A brutal way for Luka Modric’s side to go out, and possibly his last World Cup ever.
Now, Portugal is headed to the Round of 16 to face Spain, a team that Seleção das Quinas have never beaten in a World Cup.
The two sides have faced off twice, first a 1-0 victory for Spain in 2010, and then a thrilling 3-3 draw in the 2018 group stage.
More news: Cape Verde Isn’t Scared of Argentina — And They Want Everyone to Know It
More news: Cape Verde Coach Sends Clear Message to Lionel Messi Before Argentina Match
Spain had already punched its ticket to the next round earlier in the day, blowing past Austria 3-0 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice, with Pedro Porro adding one in the 66th minute, as Spain out-shot Australia 23 to five.
It was Spain’s first World Cup knockout win since 2010 in South Africa, when they went on to win the whole thing.
That 2010 tournament was where this whole Ronaldo vs. Spain story started. Spain knocked Portugal out in the Round of 16 that year, winning 1-0 and holding Ronaldo scoreless.
The two teams met again in the group stages in 2018 in Russia, a game that people still talk about to this day for Ronaldo’s legendary hat trick, capped off by a dramatic free kick in the 88th minute. But Spain matched them shot for shot, ending in a 3-3 draw.
Now, eight years later, in what will likely be Ronaldo’s last World Cup, the two rivals are set to clash again with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
Portugal just barely edged out Croatia, needing a goal in the final seconds to scrape by. Spain, meanwhile, looks like it’s peaking at the right time, coming off its best knockout performance in 16 years.
And this Spain squad isn’t the same one that Ronaldo scored three goals against in 2018. This time, they’ve got 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal, who was just named Man of the Match against Austria.
The two teams will face off at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, July 6, with kickoff set for 3:00 p.m. ET.
The Iberian Derby is one of the most intense rivalries in soccer, and Monday’s showdown will be no different.
More news: USMNT’s Folarin Balogun Could Face Multi-Match World Cup Suspension: Report