Portugal edge Croatia 2–1, Spain await in the last 16

Gvardiol goal ruled out, Portugal survive

Portugal 2–1 Croatia, and your team is through to the round of 16. The match turned on a disallowed Joško Gvardiol goal deep into extra time, the ball had a chip inside it, and the technology ruled the goal out (1) (4) (5) (6) (8) (9) (10) (14) (17). Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić was furious: "It kills everything in you" (1). Portugal held on, and the final whistle brought relief more than celebration.

Ronaldo honors Jota on the anniversary

Friday's match fell exactly one year after Diogo Jota's death. Cristiano Ronaldo led the tributes on an emotional night, and Roberto Martínez put it plainly afterwards: "We want to win the World Cup for him" (2) (4) (5) (7) (9) (10). Ronaldo called it "an incredible day, in more ways than one" (6). The squad wore the grief and used it.

Modric blasts the referee after elimination

Luka Modric did not hold back. The Croatia captain pointed at the penalty awarded to Portugal and the disallowed Gvardiol goal, saying the referee "could have whistled something in our favor" (12) (13) (15). At 40, this was almost certainly his last World Cup match (8). His future with the national team remains open (12).

Martínez subs off Ronaldo, and gets praised for it

Roberto Martínez took Cristiano Ronaldo off late in the match. Analyst Kevin Diaz called it "the moment of this World Cup for Portugal" and applauded the symbolic weight of the decision (16). Not every Portugal manager has made that call.

Spain on Monday

The round of 16 is set. Portugal face Spain on Monday (4) (5) (11). A derby with a quarterfinal spot on the line. No easing into the knockout stage.