Iberian rivals Spain, Portugal set up a delicious battle of contrasts

Spain dismantle Austria 3-0, Portugal scrape to 2-1 win over Croatia to set up a blockbuster clash

- Somshuvra Laha

It really doesn’t matter how you try to win a World Cup but there can be no doubt about the assertiveness with which Spain thrashed Austria, or the lack of it with which Portugal scraped to a win against Croatia in the last 32 matches on Thursday.

Looking increasingly comfortable in its identity, Spain dismantled Austria 3-0 through patient control and sustained superiority. Portugal, on the other hand, survived a frantic 2-1 victory that demanded resilience as much as quality, requiring a stoppage-time winner from Goncalo Ramos after a contest dominated by VAR interventions, disallowed goals, missed chances, rebounds and the enduring influence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The result is an enticing last 16 meeting between the Iberian football powerhouses that are also possibly two of the most emotionally driven sides. Emotion, however, won’t see Portugal advance to the last eight, judging by how Croatia pushed them back in the second half of the match.

The performance reinforced the truth that Portugal have evolved beyond being solely dependent on Ronaldo, yet almost every decisive moment still gravitates towards him. It remains Portugal’s greatest strength as well as their most intriguing tactical dilemma.

The opening hour belonged almost entirely to Portugal. Bruno Fernandes dictated possession between the lines, Rafael Leao repeatedly isolated defenders in wide areas, while Joao Cancelo’s advanced positioning Croatia spent long periods confined to their own defensive third. What must keep Portugal concerned though is how that domination translated to almost nothing.