From 1 0 down to a last gasp winner in Toronto. This World Cup round of 32 clash had all the hallmarks of a tournament classic, and for Portugal, it w...
From 1 0 down to a last gasp winner in Toronto. This World Cup round of 32 clash had all the hallmarks of a tournament classic, and for Portugal, it was a test of nerve they passed with flying colours. Croatia, disciplined and organised, had set their stall out early, deploying a compact low block that frustrated Portugal's creative talents for much of the evening. They took the lead through a well worked move that caught the Portuguese defence napping, and for a while, it looked like another giant killing might be on the cards.But this Portugal side, under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, possesses a brand of tactical flexibility that can turn a game on its head. They refused to panic. Instead, they upped the tempo, forcing Croatia into defensive errors. The equaliser came from the spot, a penalty won through sheer persistence. And who else to step up but Cristiano Ronaldo The old lion, under the bright lights, showed the ice cold nerve that has defined his career. He dispatched the penalty with clinical finishing, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Game on.Yet the real drama was reserved for the dying embers of the match. Stoppage time. The kind of squeaky bum time that separates the contenders from the pretenders. Goncalo Ramos, the young forward who has been waiting in the wings, produced a moment of sheer quality. A clever run, a deft touch, and a finish that left the Croatian defence rooted to the spot. Cue pandemonium in the Portuguese end. Ramos has produced those moments before, but none as big as this. This was a statement of intent. Portugal have weathered the storm and now face Spain in the next round. That tie, ladies and gentlemen, is the one the tournament has been waiting for. Can Portugal's pragmatic steel overcome Spain's possession based mastery We are about to find out.
