World Cup Match Notes: The Kid vs. The Old Man, Portugal–Spain at Dallas Stadium
Dallas Stadium has hosted Lionel Messi breaking records, Erling Haaland winning knockout round games, and Egypt advancing on penalty kicks. Monday, it gets a match that everyone has been waiting for.
Portugal and Spain meet on Monday afternoon in the Round of 16. It is the Iberian Derby with a quarterfinal berth on the line. There is also the storyline of the two best players for each side, who are 23-years apart in age. Cristiano Ronaldo is 41, playing in his final World Cup, going up against an 18-year-old Lamine Yamal.
Spain is unbeaten in their last 34 matches and has yet to concede a single goal in this tournament. Portugal arrived thanks to some late heroics against Croatia (and some VAR help).
The math doesn't obviously favor Portugal; it rarely does when you are playing Spain. But, with this being Ronaldo's final World Cup run, anything feels possible.
Here’s what you need to know.
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Lineups
Three Things to Watch
The Midfield Battle Is Actually the Whole Damn Game
Ronaldo and Yamal are going to make the headlines in this one, but the actual match will really be won in the midfield. Rodri and Pedri against Vitinha and Joao Neves could be the midfield matchup of the tournament. Elite ball-controllers going directly against each other. If Rodri and Pedri win the battle, Spain will control the tempo, which will also limit Ronaldo's service. If Vitinha and Neves disrupt the flow for Portugal, then this could be one for the ages.
Yamal vs. Mendes: The Matchup Spain Wins If They Want To
Yamal has been dealing with a hamstring injury since April. But against Austria in the Round of 32, you wouldn't have known about it. He looked every bit the part that people have hyped him up to be. That is dangerous for Portugal, as they've struggled at times in defending against pace in this tournament. If Yamel gets space behind Nuno Mendes along the wings, then it will be a big day for the Spanish teen.
Ronaldo Starts, But Does He Finish?
Ronaldo scored the opener from the penalty spot against Croatia, but was subbed ten minutes later. A decision that left him visibly frustrated on the bench as the game went on, and Croatia nearly tied it up in the final seconds. Roberto Martinez has already proven that he will pull Ronaldo if the moment calls for it, regardless of Ronaldo's legacy. This one isn't really whether or not Ronaldo will score and rise to the moment here, but it will be more about whether he has the gas in the tank to go the full 90-plus if this game is tight.
The Vibe Check
Today may have been the most chaotic to get into the stadium. This may be the first game that is truly a 50-50 split between the two fan groups. It is going to be loud, passionate and I’d expect some drama on the field to fuel it all.
The Call
If Portugal can come out quickly and make it a game, I think we could see one of the best matches of the tournament. If they struggle to create chances, this one will go to Spain. I think in the end, Spain comes out on top 3-1.
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