Spain defeats Portugal 1-0 to eliminate Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup run and advance to the quarter-finals. The match, played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is described as a low-tempo encounter between the two Iberian rivals. The only goal arrives late as a Spanish substitute, Mikel Merino, scores in the first minute of stoppage time to secure the win.
Following Spain’s result, attention turns to the United States’ next match in the tournament. The United States is set to play Belgium in the last 16 in Seattle. Both reports link the upcoming US game to controversy involving forward Folarin Balogun, who is described as having been reprieved by FIFA on Sunday. With the quarter-final stage approaching, Spain’s qualification Friday is noted, while the US matchup with Belgium is framed as the next major test after the Balogun development.
