Spain and Switzerland handled their opponents on Matchday 20 of the FIFA World Cup with relative ease, but Portugal played a match for the ages in their late win over Croatia.
Luka Modric and his Croatia bowed out after 18 minutes of stoppage time against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in a match billed as the end of an era for one of these players.
Spain 3 – 0 Austria
Spain entered the match with Austria on a 33-match undefeated streak. The smart money was on Spain to continue that streak.
But Austria began the match well. They did not let Spain dominate possession and held them to only a single shot on target heading into the first hydration break.
Spain’s main attacking threat, Lamine Yamal, was heavily marked by Austria. His constant switching of sides kept both fullbacks, Konrad Laimer and Stefan Posch, busy, but they handled the pressure well.
Marc Cucurella thought he had Spain on the board in the 29th minute. He rose high to head in a corner, but Pau Cubarsí impeded the Austrian keeper, Alexander Schlager, knocking him over and committing the foul.
But Cucurella was involved in Spain’s eventual goal in the 36th minute. His cutback to find Mikel Oyarzabal made it easy for the striker to pass the ball into the net past Schlager.
Schlager stood tall throughout first-half stoppage time to keep Austria only down by one goal. Two quick back-to-back saves brought Austrian fans to their feet as they recognized how quickly this match could have gotten away from them.
Spain continued their domination on the ball in the second half. In the 66th minute, a beautiful passing sequence gave them the go-ahead goal.
Álex Baena moved the ball with Cucurella near the left side of the 18-yard box. Finding a pocket of space, Baena played in a racing Pedro Porro.
Porro blasted the ball into the net, securing his first senior international goal for Spain.
Oyarzabal added his fourth of the World Cup in the last minute of regulation time. Cucurella hit the early cross for the Spanish striker, finding him in acres of space.
From there, Oyarzabal was in open space on Schlager, and slotted the easy goal behind the Austrian keeper.
Efficient and effective, Spain got the job done with an emphatic 3-0 win, moving them into the Round of 16.
Portugal 2 – 1 Croatia
It was a match billed as the last for one of two global superstars, Ronaldo and Modric. But beyond the individuals, it was a match to book one nation into the Round of 16.
Portugal started early, pressuring Croatia into their half and looking to make Dominik Livakovic, Croatia’s goalkeeper, work.
Croatia started compact, leaving little space between their back two lines, which forced Portugal to play wide and try to go around.
Ronaldo had a couple of chances inside the first half, with Pedro Neto looking for him with aerial balls. However, the Portuguese star was unable to get a quality connection, and both attempts went wide.
Croatia was forced to chase the ball throughout the half as Portugal controlled possession and chances. They were likely welcoming of the half to give themselves a breather and to regroup with a new game plan.
Croatia started the second half with a sense of urgency. They started to find their way into Portugal’s box and take advantage of errors.
Mateo Kovacic pounced on one such error in the 48th minute, but his shot went into the side netting. On the ensuing corner, Croatia had another opportunity from distance, stating their clear intention for how they wanted the second half to go.
And it paid off in the 53rd minute with a goal from Ivan Perisic.
Josip Stanisic crossed the ball high from the right. It bounced off a head in the box, changed direction and landed sweetly for Perisic.
The veteran player made no mistake, giving Croatia the lead with their first shot on target in the match.
That one goal changed everything. Rafael Leão pegged a shot off the woodwork in the 58th minute, close to giving Portugal the equalizer.
Perisic followed that up with another hard shot in transition, but it was saved by Diogo Costa.
But Croatia’s celebrations were halted after the referee was brought to the pitch-side monitor to look at a potential penalty. Renato Veiga was held inside the box on a corner and brought down.
The penalty was given, and Ronaldo stepped up, finally getting his knockout-round goal in the 68th minute.
Croatia tried to respond through their halftime substitute, Mateo Kovacic. He rang one shot off the post and got a rebound, which went over within 30 seconds of one another.
Petar Sucic thought he had Croatia back on top in the 80th minute with a breakaway goal, but he timed his run a little offside.
The match seemed destined for extra time, but Gonçalo Ramos, subbed on around the hour mark, put an end to Croatia’s run.
Leão’s cross found Ramos in the 18-yard box. He rose high over his defender and got a strong head on the end of it, sealing Portugal’s win.
Josko Gvardiol tied it up deep into stoppage time, 13 minutes after full time. But after a lengthy review and another trip to the pitch-side monitor, it was judged to be offside.
There was little that Croatia could do after that emotional swing. Portugal left the pitch with a date set against Spain in the Round of 16.
Switzerland 2 – 0 Algeria
Algeria may have been the team that looked more likely to make something happen in the first 10 minutes of the match, but it was Switzerland that struck first.
A brilliant run by Johan Manzambi drew a couple of Swiss defenders to him as he entered the box. He continued to the byline, cutting back the pass for Breel Embolo, who just had to tap in the easy goal in the 10th minute.
The goal settled the game somewhat as Algeria gravitated to a more pragmatic approach, probing for advances rather than trying to force them. Switzerland proved difficult to break down, keeping their defensive shape while attacking down the flanks as the opportunities presented.
The match played quietly to the half without either side truly challenging the opposition’s keeper. Algeria arguably had the better of chances after the hydration break, but few threatened the Swiss keeper, Gregor Kobel.
Switzerland exploded into the second half with a goal roughly 30 seconds after the whistle.
Algeria had two attempts to clear a ball from their 18-yard box, and both times, it was picked off by a Swiss player. The ball eventually fell to Dan Ndoye, who blasted it in from the edge of the box.
Riyad Mahrez had an opportunity to get one back for Algeria, but the shot was blocked.
Whatever plan Algeria had conjured up in their halftime talk, that Swiss goal derailed it. Algeria looked shocked and disorganized throughout the opening section of the second half.
Mahrez tried to pick up his team and make things happen, but he found it difficult to connect his crosses as the Swiss backline dealt with them effectively.
Switzerland marshalled the rest of the match well. They had a chance to put it truly to bed in the 81st minute, but Fabian Rieder shot missed the wide-open net and went into the hands of the keeper.
Still, it did not matter. Switzerland held on easily for the 2-0 win and a Round of 16 matchup against either Ghana or Colombia.
Up next
Tomorrow begins with Australia playing Egypt, followed by Argentina taking on Cabo Verde.
The day ends with Colombia and Ghana.
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