Portugal battled into the last 16 of the World Cup with a drama-filled 2-1 victory over Croatia on Thursday to set up a titanic showdown with European champions Spain.

In another nerve-shredding World Cup classic, Goncalo Ramos headed Portugal into the lead in the fourth minute of stoppage time before Croatia saw a last-gasp equaliser agonisingly ruled out for offside in Toronto.

Portugal’s 41-year-old superstar captain Cristiano Ronaldo had helped haul his team back into the contest, burying a 68th-minute penalty to cancel out Croatia’s 53rd-minute opener from Ivan Perisic.

Ronaldo later joined frenzied celebrations after Ramos glanced home a sensational header deep into injury time to give Portugal the lead.

But Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates were left stunned when Josko Gvardiol prodded home an apparent equaliser in stoppage time.

Yet there was one final twist when the goal was chalked off for offside after a lengthy VAR review to the disbelief of Croatia’s players and their large contingent of fans at Toronto’s BMO Field.

After the final whistle, an emotional Ronaldo held up and pulled on a Portugal shirt bearing the number 21, a tribute to late team-mate Diogo Jota, the Liverpool star who tragically died in a car crash almost a year to the day from Thursday’s win, on July 3 last year.

“We knew it before the game. It was a so special moment. We speak today, our group, about that, the coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable,” Ronaldo said afterwards of the tribute to Jota.

“I was amazed because the situation of today. It means a lot to us, not only because we won the game, but the also the way we won the game. It was a difficult game, we knew it.”

The result ensures that Ronaldo’s incredible World Cup career will be extended for at least one more match when the Portuguese face Iberian rivals Spain in the last 16 in Dallas on Monday.

Ronaldo’s second-half penalty made him the oldest man to score in a World Cup knockout match. The goal was also first time Ronaldo had scored in a World Cup game in his glittering career.

Spain romp past Austria

Spain had advanced to that meeting with a scintillating 3-0 win over Austria in Los Angeles earlier Friday that confirmed their status as one of the favourites for the title.

Two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header sealed victory for the Spaniards, who produced their most complete performance of the tournament to advance to the next round.

Spain opened their World Cup campaign with a faltering 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, but have subsequently built momentum with each match.

With Spanish movie stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in the 70,492 crowd at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, Spain were always in control against a limited Austrian side who failed to register a shot on goal.

Oyarzabal fired Spain into the lead in the 36th minute, sweeping in a low finish to crown a slick passing move, and more deft inter-play set up Porro to head home the second in the 66th minute.

Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal grabbed his second as he coolly tucked away a low finish from Marc Cucurella’s pinpoint cross.

“We played a magnificent match. I am happy because, in every aspect, we came close to perfection,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.

“Every match from now on will be more complicated. Every match will be a bit more demanding. We are moving into a more critical phase” of the World Cup, he added.

De la Fuente said his Spain side can still get better “in every area.”

“That is our spirit — the belief that we haven’t hit our ceiling yet. We need to improve naturally. We are ambitious,” he said.

The late match on Thursday will see Algeria take on Switzerland, attempting to avoid becoming the latest African team to fall by the wayside in the knockout rounds following the demise of Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal. Only Morocco have gone through to the last 16.

Algeria have never won a World Cup knockout game in four previous trips to the tournament.

AFP

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France will unleash their devastating forward line on Sweden in a last-32 tie at the World Cup on Tuesday, while Erling Haaland will try to fire Norway past the Ivory Coast and into the next round.

Co-hosts Mexico, meanwhile, bid to continue their journey in front of a fervent crowd at the Estadio Azteca when they take on Ecuador.

The Swedish defence is bracing to face not only Kylian Mbappe, who has scored four times already in this tournament, but also Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, who notched a hat-trick in a 4-1 win against Norway in the group stage.

Completing the French trio, Michael Olise’s runs at defenders have been creating havoc.

With attacking swagger and midfield flair, France appear well-placed to reach their third final in as many World Cups.

The only question mark might be their defence — and Sweden have their own high-profile forward line who will try to unlock it, although Premier League duo Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres have not fully fired yet at this tournament.

If France get past Sweden, they will face not Germany — who were beaten in a penalty shootout for the first time in World Cup history on Monday — but their conquerors Paraguay.

France coach Didier Deschamps said Sweden had “nothing to lose”.

“Sweden are playing for their survival. Obviously they will do everything to win the game,” Deschamps said on Monday.

“We need to stay humble, maintain our determination and concentration. In the group stage winning the first game gave us some margin for error, but now we have no second chances.”

France came into the World Cup as one of the leading contenders to win the trophy, following their triumph in 2018 and defeat on penalties to Argentina in the 2022 final.

Sweden’s route to the World Cup was unusual — they finished bottom of their qualifying group but were parachuted into the play-offs thanks to their performances in the UEFA Nations League.

They reached the knockout rounds in North America, despite a 5-1 drubbing by the Netherlands, as one of the best third-placed teams in the group phase.

Sweden coach Graham Potter said his team would have to produce something special to beat France.

“They have quality all over… They have won the World Cup before and they have a fantastic manager,” Englishman Potter said Monday.

“An exciting challenge awaits us, and we will have to play the game of our lives, clearly.”

‘Powerhouse’ Haaland

Haaland, another potent attacking force at this World Cup with four goals in two games, will be fully rested when he comes up against the Ivory Coast in Dallas after he was not used in the defeat to France.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken hailed the leadership of his “powerhouse”, hailing Haaland as “one of the best players in the world”.

“He’s a great leader for us, he leads by example on the pitch,” he said. “He has something that maybe you can’t train so much to reach it, the sniff for goals, the feeling that the ball will land at your feet… and I think that is his biggest strength.”

Mexico meanwhile have the added bonus of knowing that if they beat Ecuador, they will remain in their capital city to face the winner of the tie between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On a dramatic day of action Monday, Paraguay stunned Germany in a penalty shootout of high drama after holding them to a 1-1 draw after extra time in Foxborough.

“This qualification is for all Paraguayans who believed in us,” coach Gustavo Alfaro said — and Paraguay’s president called a national holiday to celebrate.

Morocco won their own shootout to eliminate the Netherlands after an enthralling contest in Monterrey as goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved the Netherlands’ fifth penalty from Crysencio Summerville.

Then striker Ismael Saibari stepped up to blast home the winning effort for the Atlas Lions.

And Brazil came from behind to overcome Japan 2-1 in the day’s first game, and will face the winner of Norway’s game against the Ivory Coast on Sunday

AFP

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