Since the 2006 World Cup, Portugal has not managed to win two games in a row in the competition. This Monday (28), against Uruguay, not only managed to repeat the double but also confirmed in advance its classification for the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar with a 2-0 victory.
Bruno Fernandes, already in the second half, scored the goals that allow the Portuguese to dream of longer flights in the knockout stage, as he did 16 years ago, when he reached the semifinals.
In addition, the victory over the Uruguayans at the Lusail stadium also complicated the situation of the South American team in Group H. While the Portuguese lead, with six points, the Uruguayans have only one, tied with South Korea.
In the last round, Portugal will face the South Koreans depending only on a draw to be the first in the group, while Uruguay duels with Ghana in a game of life and death – at this moment, the second place in the group is with the Africans, who add up to three points.
Seeing the Celestial team in bad shape is like revenge for the Lusitanians. In Russia, in 2018, the squad led by Cristiano Ronaldo said goodbye to the competition in the round of 16, precisely surpassed by the Uruguayans.
On the occasion, Cavani scored two goals in the 2-1 victory.
If the first half was portrayed by a single photo, Uruguay would have the advantage. The South American team had the best chance, in the 32nd minute, when Bentancur lined up in the Portuguese defense and demanded a block from goalkeeper Diego Costa.
It was the first time at this World Cup that the Uruguayans put a goalkeeper to work. In the debut, against South Korea, the goalless draw was largely a reflection of the fact that the South American team did not require any defense from Kim Seung-Gyu.
But Bentancur’s move was an isolated moment in a stage in which the Europeans had control of the game. Building their moves from, mainly, the feet of William Carvalho and with Cristiano Ronaldo skewered between the defenders, the Portuguese prowled the opposing area, but failed in the final pass. It was a matter of more whimsy.
Despite this, it was coach Fernando Santos who ended up going to the locker room with a greater concern. In the 42nd minute, he saw another of his athletes suffer an injury: right-back Nuno Mendes felt a muscle discomfort, left the field crying and had to be replaced.
Raphael Guerreiro entered, while the holder increased the number of Portuguese athletes with physical problems to three (he joins Danilo Pereira and Otávio, who were injured in the victory over Ghana, by 3 to 2).
After the break, the Portuguese finally found their way.
At nine minutes, Bruno Fernandes tried to cross for Cristiano Ronaldo, but the ball ended up going straight to the goal. The number 7 shirt stretched all over to try to hit the ball, but neither he nor the goalkeeper hit the ball. She just stopped at the back of the net.
“I celebrated as if it were Cristiano’s, it also seemed to me that he had touched the ball, my goal was a cross for him. But, regardless of that, we are happy for the team’s victory. The important thing is the goal we achieved, which is to be in the next phase”, said Fernandes as he left the field.
After the goal, the match became more open for both sides. The Portuguese themselves had a chance to expand, while the Uruguayans finally started to frequent the attacking field, demanding good defenses from Diogo Costa.
Before the end, however, the referee awarded a penalty to the Portuguese after defender Giménez deflected the ball with his hand. The bid was reviewed by VAR (video referee). Bruno Fernandes converted in stoppage time.
The duel was also marked by a field invasion, which occurred a minute before Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring. The unnamed fan ran across the pitch with a rainbow-colored flag used by the LGBTQIA+ community inclusion movement.
The man was also wearing a shirt with the inscription “Respect Iranian women” on the back and, on the front, the words “Salve Ukraine” (Save Ukraine) – the country is at war with Russia. He was overpowered by security and removed from the field.
The mention of Iranian women comes as an apparent show of support for demonstrations in Iran after the death of a young woman in custody of the country’s moral police.
The World Cup in Qatar has been marked by protests in favor of gender equality and in support of the LGBTQIA+ community, while FIFA tries to curb actions during the tournament.
The entity, for example, banned captains from seven European countries (England, Germany, Holland, Wales, Denmark, Belgium and Switzerland) from wearing an armband with the colors of the rainbow and the inscription One Love (One love).
In Qatar, homosexuality is a crime. Public displays of affection between men and women are also prohibited. Ever since the announcement that the country would host the World Cup, the issue has been cause for concern.
At the entrance to the stadiums, fans are also prevented from entering with flags or T-shirts with protest inscriptions.
During the duel between Argentina and Saudi Arabia, for example, local authorities took a flag from the state of Pernambuco, taken to the stadium by a group of Brazilians. According to testimonies that were at the scene, the agents thought it was a flag in support of the LGBTQIA+ community because it also has the colors of the rainbow.
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