Neighbours Portugal and Spain meet in Arlington for their first encounter since last year’s UEFA Nations League (UNL) final when they lock horns in this last 16 World Cup tie.
Portugal left it late in their 2-1 victory over Croatia in the last 32, but progression was all that mattered as they close in on reaching back-to-back World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
A historical stumbling block comes in the fact they haven’t won consecutive World Cup knockout games since 2006, although they’re still likely to feel well placed to exorcise those demons here having won 12 of their last 17 matches.
Conceding no more than once in any of the last nine games within that run gives them a solid foundation to build upon ahead of what could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-ever World Cup match should Portugal be eliminated here.
Spain cruised into the last 16 with a 3-0 demolition of Austria, becoming the first team since Germany in the 2014 final to not allow a single shot on target in a World Cup knockout match.
That impenetrable defending has been the story of not only their tournament but under Luis de la Fuente, who remains unbeaten at major tournaments, with only four goals conceded in those 11 games.
Spain’s only defeat since June 2023 coming on penalties against Portugal last year offers a huge note of caution ahead of this clash, but with a World Cup quarter-final and a slice of history at stake as one more unbeaten game would equal the countries’ longest-ever unbeaten run (35 games),
Spain have more than enough incentive to enact revenge here.
Portugal may have triumphed in the UNL final last year, but have won only one of the 12 competitive head to heads in regulation time.
Portugal, Spain go to ‘war’ at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
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