Bruno Fernandes started for Portugal on Thursday night in the World Cup round of 32 against Croatia.
Taking on Croatia at the World Cup is never easy, and it proved to be a tough night for Portugal in Toronto.
Croatia took an early lead in the first-half through Ivan Perisic, with Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo part of a really poorly set-up Portugal team under Roberto Martinez.
Portugal’s equaliser wasn’t found while Fernandes was on the pitch, as he was hooked off in the 62nd minute. After this, Portugal scored from the spot and then added what he thought was the winner in injury time.
Before Croatia scored an equaliser, only for a very controversial offside to deny them, Goncalo Ramos’ goal therefore sent Portugal through.
Here is how Fernandes and Ronaldo fared.
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Bruno Fernandes struggles for Portugal
Up until this competition, Fernandes has always been Portugal’s main man, scoring and assisting a frightening number of goals for his country in the past year.
But it hasn’t been the same at the World Cup.
Fernandes started and had the best chance of the game for Portugal in the first-half, only for his two shots to be kept out by the goalkeeper and a block.
He wasn’t able to create anything of note, often visibly frustrated by the centre-backs and two midfielders’ reluctance to pass the ball forward.
Portugal might have won, but there are so many problems within the team.
To have a player like Bruno Fernandes and not funnel everything through him speaks volumes about the head coach. Spain next for Portugal, and they will have to be a lot better, but it might suit them to sit back and hit on the break, with Fernandes likely to have a lot more time on the ball.
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Cristiano Ronaldo finally scores knockout goal at the World Cup
It took six World Cups, but Ronaldo has finally scored a goal in the knockout stages of the competition as he converted a penalty to equalize in the second-half against Croatia.
It came moments after Ronaldo had the ball in the net, only for the offside flag to deny him.
He celebrated as though it were the best goal he had ever scored, which shows how important it was for him to finally break that duck.
His international career lives on, for now. But whether he starts against Spain should be up for debate because all around, he offers so little.
But his goal is one he will cherish forever.
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