1 hour ago
Key events
Here’s really Portugal person done truthful far. They weren’t peculiarly awesome successful Group K, draws pinch nan Democratic Republic of nan Congo and Colombia sandwiching a five-goal rout of a mediocre Uzbekistan side. But 2nd spot was comfortable enough, and Cristiano Ronaldo ended a 10-game series of failing to people an world goal, truthful capable affirmative boxes were ticked.
Then came nan 2-1 thriller pinch Croatia. The Croats came connected beardown astatine nan end, yet it was Portugal who sewage nan precocious winner. Throw successful immoderate high-stakes VAR play astatine some ends, and 4 disallowed goals, and it was 1 of nan games of nan tournament, unquestionably.
Reacquaint yourself pinch tonight’s teams. Here’s really it each looked astatine nan start.
Preamble
The first clip Spain played Portugal successful a competitory fixture, they hit their Iberian neighbours 9-0. Given that happened successful 1934, it’s not that instructive a result, different than a harbinger of Spanish power complete nan agelong haul: Spain lead by 17 wins to six, aliases 5 to 1 successful competitory fixtures. But Portugal won nan astir caller meaningful showdown, the 2025 Nations League last connected penalties, having doubly travel from behind. So history tin thatch america everything, aliases nan sum full of nothing, depending connected really overmuch weight you connect to it.
There’s astir apt much useful information successful nan present and now. Spain started slow astatine this World Cup, though that opening tie pinch Cape Verde doesn’t look truthful mediocre successful retrospect. But they’re picking up speed, and dazzled successful their past match, passing Austria to death. Portugal by opposition haven’t really sewage going astatine all: nan aged trooper Cristiano Ronaldo is weighing them down, immoderate will argue, and yet he’s scored 3 very useful goals to this point. People connected some sides of nan statement whitethorn arsenic good make bid pinch it, because it is what it is.
All of which is simply a long-winded measurement of saying: Spain spell into this lucifer arsenic favourites, erstwhile taking some history and existent shape into nan equation … and yet Portugal person that caller Nations League triumph arsenic succour, and it’s not arsenic though they’re not jam-packed pinch talent themselves. Throw successful nan imaginable swansong for nan aforementioned Ronaldo, and this has nan makings of a thriller. Excitement and fun, please! Kick-off successful Dallas is astatine 2pm local, 3pm EDT, 8pm BST and 5am AEST. It’s on!
