MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Columbia’s plan was executed almost perfectly. The only thing missing was a goal.
It didn’t matter. They will advance to the knockout stage as group winners.
Colombia is over world cup They opened the game as Group K winners after a goalless draw with Portugal in front of a large crowd of supporters at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night. Most of the supporters wore Colombia’s bright yellow uniforms.
“We were the better team and deserved the win,” Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo said. “I think we created too many chances, but we just lacked the finishing touches. The players were outstanding against top contenders…We not only played on equal terms, we set the terms. I think it was incredible to play against such rivals and to show so much football in this heat to so many people.”
He wasn’t wrong. Colombia made 24 of 37 attempts during the game and never faltered, despite temperatures exceeding 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius) during the game.
Both teams had already secured their spots in the knockout stages before the match, and all that was left to do was learn their opponents for the next round.
Colombia will play against Ghana in the final tournament on July 3rd. Ghana entered the game from the bottom of the FIFA rankings, but also faced England in a scoreless tie in the group stage. Portugal will face Croatia defeated Ghana 2-1 on Saturday, July 2 to become Group K runners-up, but may have to go through Spain to reach the quarter-finals.
Portugal national team coach Roberto Martínez said through an interpreter, “Today it made no difference whether we won, lost or drew.” “Our goal really is to play eight games. The path is really no different for us. We tried to win the game and our opponent did the same.”
Both teams showed a lively effort. Bruno Fernandes almost gave Portugal the lead in the first half, but was denied by Camilo Vargas. Portugal’s Diogo Costa made six saves, more than his team had in the first two games combined. Davinson Sanchez thought he had given Colombia the lead with a header at the back post just a minute into stoppage time, but his goal was disallowed as the yellow-wearing fans whistled in disbelief as he was ruled offside on the tip of his toe.
The Portugal national team, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, will head to the final tournament after a turbulent group stage, aiming for their first World Cup title and the title.
Portugal started group play with a surprising turn of events. 1-1 draw against Congo. Ronaldo subsequently faced criticism Couldn’t score In that match, and answered: be the first player Portugal scored two goals in a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, their sixth World Cup match.
“First of all, we are obviously satisfied that we have passed the first stage,” Costa said. “But obviously we are not completely satisfied, because we always want to win. That is what we work on every day. We are focused on Croatia. We will pay even closer attention to Croatia in this World Cup.”
Colombia, which did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup, defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 and then defeated Congo 1-0.
The game, played at the home stadium of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, was played in front of a capacity crowd of 64,478, including former Colombian soccer player Carlos Valderrama, FIFA President Gianni Infantino (who was seated in a suite with FBI Director Kash Patel and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio), NFL quarterback Jameis Winston, NBA player Jimmy Butler, and musical couple Gloria and Emilio. Estefan, actor Matt Damon and former NFL receiver Chad Johnson.
The game was considered one of the most popular games of the tournament, due in part to the University of South Florida. large Colombian community And then there’s the lottery of seeing Ronaldo at perhaps the last World Cup. The minimum admission price as of early Saturday morning on Friday was hovering around $3,500.
Multiple watch parties were held across South Florida to accommodate those who were unable to secure tickets. demanding matchThat included one attended by thousands at the home arena of the NHL’s Florida Panthers.
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