SPAIN – 1 PORTUGAL – 0
Arlington, July 7: Mikel Merino came off the bench to score in the first minute of second-half stoppage time as Spain edged Portugal 1-0 on Monday, bringing an emotional end to Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had delayed using his substitutes with extra time looming, but Merino justified the decision in dramatic fashion. After winning a foul, the Arsenal midfielder quickly restarted play, raced into the box and finished off a flowing move set up by Ferran Torres to beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa.“He’s one of the best in his position worldwide, and he has given us a fantastic result and a fantastic goal,” de la Fuente said. “The contribution of the substitutes has been enormous.”
The victory extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 35 matches and sent La Roja into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2010. They will face Belgium on Friday in Inglewood, California.
For Portugal, the defeat marked the end of Ronaldo’s glittering World Cup journey. The 41-year-old, who had already confirmed this would be his sixth and final World Cup, finished his international career on football’s biggest stage as the all-time leader in international goals (146) and appearances (233).
Merino, introduced only in the 85th minute after returning from a season disrupted by foot surgery, celebrated his first World Cup goal by recreating the trademark celebration of his father, former footballer Miguel Merino.“What better way to celebrate,” Merino said. “You remember all the good and the bad, and there have been difficult moments for me this year.”Ronaldo, who scored three goals during the tournament, came closest in the 37th minute with an acrobatic overhead effort that Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon gathered comfortably. Simon extended his World Cup shutout streak to a record 609 minutes as Spain became the first team to register six consecutive clean sheets at the tournament.“I’ll wake up tomorrow like I woke up today, with a clear conscience,” Ronaldo said. “I gave my best. I won three titles with Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal hadn’t won any title. So, I’m happy.”Portugal pressed desperately in stoppage time, with Bernardo Silva heading narrowly over, but Spain held firm to seal a place in the last eight.“It was a great match. Two superb teams,” de la Fuente said. “We had to suffer until the very end.” With their defensive solidity and remarkable resilience once again on full display, Spain now head into a blockbuster quarterfinal against Belgium brimming with confidence as their pursuit of a second World Cup title gathers momentum. For Portugal, meanwhile, the defeat not only ended their campaign but also brought the curtain down on one of football’s most extraordinary World Cup careers. Ronaldo may have bowed out without lifting the coveted trophy, yet his legacy remains untouchable. Across six World Cups, six European Championships and more than two decades in national colours, he transformed Portugal into a global footballing force, inspiring a generation while rewriting the record books with unmatched longevity, 146 international goals and 233 appearances. As Spain celebrated another step towards glory, the football world paused to bid farewell to a player whose impact on the international stage will endure long after the final whistle of his last World Cup. (AP)
