Portugal and the VAR put an end to the irreducible Croatia

The Portuguese team beat Croatia (2-1) thanks to a header from Gonçalo Ramos in the 94th minute of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 clash held at the BMO Field in Toronto (Canada), a tense match that includes Spain on Monday.

Roberto Martínez’s men stayed the first half but were greatly outclassed in the second by a Croatia willing to continue the love affair of its golden generation with the World Cup. One of those mythical ones like Ivan Perisic made it 0-1 and, even with the checkered reaction on the rise, the VAR warned of a penalty that Cristiano Ronaldo converted to make it 1-1, but Portugal continued worse.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved the Iberian team and, without CR7 on the field or Vitinha, the Spanish coach took risks in the changes, a header from Ramos sparked the tie. However, even in long injury time, the irreducible Croatia, runners-up in 2018 and third in 2022, managed to score through Josko Gvardiol, but the VAR, with the referee on the screen, annulled it for offside.

The poster did not disappoint in a clash that could well be a crossing for something more than the round of 16, where Spain had been waiting for a few hours. Hurt by criticism and knowing what they had to do with the arrival of all or nothing, Portugal was more convincing in their performance against Croatia than in the three group stage matches. The entry of Rafael Leao for Joao Félix on the left wing was a success, and on the other side, Pedro Neto also created danger.

The Portuguese team overwhelmed the Croatian, and enjoyed good approaches, with an active attitude in terms of pressure and the intention to go upwards. Although Zlatko Dalic’s men found a couple of shots from Ante Budimir, the checkered team struggled to get out of their field, lacking the speed for a good counterattack or possession to breathe.

The clearest was the first, after four minutes, by Bruno Fernandes, and several Portuguese footballers came close to their expected level. Vitinha was missing again to facilitate the work in the engine room, and Cristiano Ronaldo, to finish it off with a couple of shot attempts in the small area. However, the Nations League champion, despite an action by Nuno Mendes that he forgave, stayed in the locker room and only Croatia came out with enthusiasm.

PORTUGAL ESCAPE FROM THE CROATIAN CLAW

The step forward for Dalic’s team was one chance after another, until Perisic put his team ahead, paying off once again, at left back, at 37 years old. Then, between Costa’s stops and the restlessness of his defense, Cristiano Ronaldo burst in, taking advantage of the only one he had, with high-level control and definition, but his goal did not go up due to offside. Even mulling over his bad fortune, the veteran striker had a better one.

A penalty by Nikola Vlasic on Renato Veiga in a corner caught the attention of the VAR and the Norwegian Espen Eskas, with a lot of work in Toronto, whistled it. Cristiano made it 1-1 but Croatia continued to be better, despite the arsenal of changes by Roberto Martínez who did not look at surnames. Nor with the 41-year-old player and five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano sitting wondering if it would be his last dance. With more possession, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic shined, making Costa shine, with a save and the ball hitting the post.

Rafael Leao, who withstood his coach’s challenge, crashed into the crossbar and was the one who put in the measured cross so that Ramos became Portugal’s hero in stoppage time. There was still time for more, since Gvardiol made it 2-2 which, after a long review to see if Igor Matanovic touched the ball into the area or not, did not count for Croatia’s epic and the farewell to its legends.

TECHNICAL SHEET.

–RESULT: PORTUGAL, 2 – CROATIA, 1. (0-0, at halftime).

–ALIGNMENTS:

PORTUGAL: Coast; Cancelo (Ramos, min.63), Veiga, Dias, Mendes; Vitinha (Silva, min.62), Neves, Fernandes (Semedo, min.63); Neto (Conceicao, min.63), Cristiano (Neves, min.81) and Leao.

CROACIA: Livakovic; Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Perisic; Modric, Kovacic (Kramaric, min.96); Vlasic (Gvardiol, min.92), Baturina (Pasalic, min.68), P.Sucic; y Budimir (Matanovic, descanso).

–GOALS:

0 – 1, min.53, Perisic.

1 – 1, min.68, Cristiano (penalty).

2 – 1, min.94, Ramos.

–REFEREE: Espen Eskas (NOR). Matanovic was cautioned (min.17) by Portugal. And Modric (min.59) and Perisic (min.98) in Croatia.

–STADIUM: BMO Field in Toronto (Canada).