Portugal edge Croatia, set up Spain clash Monday
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- Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 with Ronaldo starting on the bench; he came on, converted a penalty to equalize, and was subbed off in the 81st minute.
- Gonçalo Ramos headed in the stoppage-time winner four minutes into added time, continuing a pattern of stepping up in Ronaldo's absence that included a hat trick vs Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup.
- Croatia had a stoppage-time equalizer from Josko Gvardiol ruled out for offside — their third disallowed goal of the match — prompting fans to rain empty water bottles onto the pitch.
- Ivan Perisic opened the scoring in the 53rd minute and became the sixth player to score in four World Cups, joining Messi, Ronaldo, Klose, Pelé, and Seeler.
- Rafael Leão made his first tournament start and led Portugal's attackers with 276 meters of progressive carries while also hitting the post in the 58th minute.
- Portugal will face Spain in Arlington, Texas on Monday after Spain beat Austria 3-0; the sides have met seven times in 15 years with all but one ending in a draw or penalty shootout.
- Luka Modric likely played his final World Cup match at age 40, leading Croatia with 66 touches and three tackles, while coach Zlatko Dalić was noncommittal about his own future and pointed to 22-year-old Petar Sucic and 23-year-old Martin Baturina.
Why it matters: Portugal's win sets up an Iberian derby with Spain on Monday in Arlington, the eighth meeting in 15 years and a rematch of last summer's UEFA Nations League final. For Croatia, the exit likely closes the international chapter for 40-year-old Modric and 37-year-old Perisic, with Dalić already pivoting to a younger generation featuring Sucic and Baturina.
