Portugal 0 Colombia 0
One of the best goalless games I’ve ever seen. The score line would make you think that it was a dull affair in Miami this evening but it was anything but as Portugal looked find that goal that would take them to the top of the group, the first half was largely dominated by Colombia who could have scored 2 or 3 goals if it wasn’t for Diogo Costa in the Portugal net who made some brilliant saves. As the half wore on Portugal did create some chances themselves with the best of the bunch falling to Bruno Fernandes as Cancelo played the ball across the box which was missed by a Colombia defender falling to Fernandes who’s effort from about six yards was brilliantly saved by Camilo Vargas, the first half ended like a basketball game going to end-to-end despite Colombia not even needing to score to top the group, the second half began with Portugal on top and they really should have taken the lead after Diogo Dalot put a brilliant cross in the box for Joao Felix who had a free header but put it miles over the bar. As the game was coming to an end Colombia looked the far more likely to score and did actually have the ball in the net in the 88th minute as a corner was played short to James Rodriguez who swung a brilliant cross to the back-post which was met by Davinson Sanchez who thought he scored the winner for Colombia only for the flag to go up, upon replay it actually looked like he was onside but the VAR showed he was off by a toenail. In the end it didn’t matter as Colombia top the group anyway but a shame to rule out a goal for such a tight offside.
Colombia have looked brilliant so far in this World Cup. I really have been impressed with the Colombians so far in this World Cup, they knew that a draw would have been enough to top the group today yet they still went all out going for the win which I respect massively and gave us a great game despite it finishing 0-0. Led by the veteran James Rodriguez who continues to shine in a Colombia shirt they have topped this group which most people including me didn’t see coming and they deserved it based off the three games, their tournament experience is clearly showing after making the final of the Copa America in 2024 and they are going to be a problem in the knockouts no matter who they are up against. My one worry for Colombia is the attack if Luis Diaz isn’t on form, Jhon Cordoba came in today for Luis Suarez and was pretty dreadful only having 16 touches before coming off in the 60th minute. Luis Suarez had a brilliant season for Sporting Lisbon last year scoring 38 goals but he’s yet to turn up at this tournament and going into the knockouts without scoring would worry me if I was Nestor Lorenzo, if he can find his club form then Colombia are going to be a scary opposition in the next round.
Another poor performance from Portugal. I’d be worried if I was Roberto Martinez about the way his team has played in this group stage so far, barring a hammering of Fabio Cannavarro’s Uzbekistan they have looked really average in the games against DR Congo and now Colombia. The score line makes you think they were comfortable at the back but they were anything but and barring some heroics from Diogo Costa they would have been deservedly beaten today by Colombia, there are issues all over this Portuguese team but the midfield has been the biggest surprise so far for me in this tournament. You’d think that a three-man midfield containing Fernandes-Vitinha-Neves would be one of the best at this World Cup but they’ve been so poor and have led to Portugal moving the ball like snails when they go forward, the attack hasn’t been much better but I don’t know how much you can expect from Pedro Neto and Joao Felix going forward. Rafael Leao is flaky at the best of times but he’s a far better player than both Neto and Felix and should be starting in the knockouts, we’ve talked at length about Ronaldo but if you don’t feed him then he’s not going to have an impact in the game. Can Portugal go far in this World Cup? I don’t think so.
Portugal have a mountain to climb now in the knockouts. The reason that this game was so important for Portugal was that if they won they would have been on the far more favourable side of the bracket, now that they have finished 2nd their run to the final most likely looks like Croatia in the Round of 32, Spain in the Round of 16, Belgium in the Quarter-final then a Semi-final with probably France. With the way Portugal are playing so far in this World Cup there’s not a chance they are getting past even Spain in the Round of 16, if they had won this game there run would look like Ghana in the Round of 32, Switzerland in the Round of 16, Argentina in the Quarter-final then England or Brazil in the Semi-Final. A far more favourable draw in my opinion that now is Colombia’s but I suppose you never know in the knockouts, there’s been bigger surprises than Portugal in the past.
How did this result leave the group? The other game in the group was DR Congo vs Uzbekistan where DR Congo came out on top 3-1 which sets up a game against England in the Round of 32 as they finish as one of the best 3rd place teams on 4 points, Uzbekistan finish on 0 points and where arguably the worst team in this World Cup in my opinion after bringing in Cannavarro to due to his experience in International tournaments for Italy as a player, I can’t see him continuing as Uzbekistan manager after what’s been a pretty disastrous tournament for the country. DR Congo on the other hand have been really impressive so far and won’t be an easy proposition for England in the next round, any chance of a shock in the next round from the African nation? Why not?