Ronaldo does two things that sum up the match. He celebrates after the fourth goal. And at the end of the first half he doesn't even wait to be in the tunnel to express his disappointment to coach Fernando Santos. He's right in both: Portugal wins, goes to 4 and can celebrate. But he doesn't do much to please, he's not very convincing, he shows steps backwards compared to the match against Spain. The European champions are currently being dragged by their number 7: Bernardo Silva, designated second fiddle, doesn't get going, Guedes just runs, Joao Mario is not far from the one seen in Milan. The central defenders, seasoned, sometimes stagger but always stay on their feet: Pepe and Fonte, two filibusters. Morocco, on the other hand, does only one thing in the end: it cries. It is eliminated from the World Cup, a verdict that does not allow for extenuating circumstances and that is objectively severe after two games in which it reaps nothing, having however sown discreetly.
And thank goodness Diego Costa was the intruder, the old-fashioned “puntero” who had nothing to do with the Spain of magicians. The mark of the Atletico striker is still on the World Cup of the Roja: with a bit of luck, he bags his third goal of the tournament and signs the 1-0 against Iran, which is worth the draw with Portugal at the top of group B. Without him, it would have been trouble. Tabarez only needs the 1-0 signed by the Pistolero in the first half. Uruguay goes to the eighth-finals. The Saudis improve compared to their debut but collect the second defeat in a row, caused by an empty exit of the goalkeeper Al Owais.
EDITORIAL TEAM
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