Spain found a winner just in time when super sub Mikel Merino struck in stoppage time to put Spain through to the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Portugal in Dallas on Monday.
A quick free-kick in the final third gave Ferran Torres space to feed the Arsenal man, who struck with his left foot and beat Diogo Costa to his right.
Cristiano Ronaldo played the full duration of the match but had little to show for it apart from his two shots on target in the first half.
Nuno Mendes leaving the field injured in the 54th minute changed the course of the match, allowing Spain to dominate deep in the Portuguese half without having to worry about a counter from the left flank.
Mendes’ rocket hit a corner and smashed the crossbar in the 41st minute, the closest Portugal came to a goal.
POR vs ESP player ratings
Portugal: Costa 7.8, Cancelo 6.7, Dias 6.4, Veiga 6.8, Mendes 6.8, Neves 7.1, Vitinha 6.5, Neto 6.5, Fernandes 6.7, Joao Félix 6.9, Ronaldo 6.4; substitutes: Nélson Semedo 6.0, Diogo Dalot 6.2, Rafael Leão 6.5, Bernardo Silva (under review), Francisco Conceição (under review).
Spain: Simón 8.3, Porro 7.6, Cubarsí 6.9, Laporte 6.7, Cucurella 7.1, Rodri 8.1, Pedri 7.0, Lamine Yamal 7.5, Olmo 6.9, Baena 7.4, Oyarzabal 6.9; substitutes: Ferran Torres 6.7, Fabián Ruiz (no rating), Mikel Merino (no rating), Borja Iglesias (no rating).
Published on July 7, 2026
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