Colombia dominate Portugal without reward but emerge as genuine dark horses at World Cup 2026

Colombia did not fearfulness Portugal astatine the Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami connected Saturday and, contempt a goalless draw, deserved to triumph the match. It was a near-flawless show from the Cafeteros successful the last circular of Group K of 2026 World Cup and justified wherefore they finished arsenic radical winners.

The South American broadside had greater possession crossed some halves — 55 per cent successful full — a higher expected goals fig (1.41), much large chances (two) and astir doubly arsenic galore shots (21 to 12). Even the substitutions failed to displacement the balance, contempt Portugal having considerably much high-quality options connected the bench.

This Colombian performance, combined with victories implicit Uzbekistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and a favourable bracket secured by finishing apical of the group, proves that this squad tin imagination large astatine this World Cup.

Colombia 0-0 Portugal: What happened?

The archetypal fractional betwixt Colombia and Portugal was 1 of the champion of this World Cup. The South American broadside were superior for agelong periods, utilizing Jhon Cordoba arsenic a focal constituent and Jhon Arias' question down the close flank to marque ground. Diogo Costa made a crisp prevention to contradict Cordoba's cross-shot.

Nothing to abstracted Colombia and Portugal astatine Miami Stadium ?#FIFAWorldCup

When Portugal improved, exploiting the close flank done Pedro Neto and Joao Cancelo, Camilo Vargas produced 1 of the saves of the tourney — a point-blank halt to contradict Bruno Fernandes, who recovered himself unmarked astatine the backmost post.

In the 2nd half, Colombia's dominance was adjacent much pronounced. While Portugal offered astir thing successful attack, the Cafeteros pushed guardant relentlessly, created chances and appeared to person won it erstwhile Davidson Sanchez turned the shot home, lone to beryllium denied by the narrowest of offside calls — a determination that would person reflected the match's communicative acold much faithfully.

Colombia's beardown showing puts them successful presumption to marque history

From the outset, Colombia sought to play done the lines, packing the cardinal areas and keeping players adjacent to the shot to make through-ball opportunities successful depth. They created a succession of chances, with finishing the lone notable shortcoming.

Colombia's attacking benignant besides brought the champion retired of James Rodriguez, who near the transportation to a lasting ovation aft 76 minutes. The skipper had 85 touches and delivered 5 cardinal passes.

Even successful the substitutions, the Cafeteros showed greater ambition than their opponents. Defensive midfielder Jefferson Lerma made mode for Richard Rios — an attacking-minded subordinate — to articulation Gustavo Puerta successful a treble pivot with an violative lean. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, by contrast, withdrew Vitinha, arguably the world's champion cardinal midfielder implicit the past 2 years, successful favour of Samu Costa. The Paris Saint-Germain antheral has had a notably subdued tournament.

The prime of shot produced nether manager Nestor Lorenzo suggests Colombia tin astatine the precise slightest lucifer their historical 2014 quarter-final run. Finishing apical of the radical sets up a last-32 necktie against Ghana, past Switzerland oregon Iran successful the circular of 16, earlier a imaginable quarter-final successful a bracket wherever Argentina are favourites — with Cape Verde, Australia and Egypt besides successful the frame.

Portugal disappoint again

Once again, Portugal produced precise small of note. As successful their opening gully with DR Congo, they were a constricted attacking menace — and this clip could not adjacent power possession. They were pinned backmost astatine moments by Colombia's intensity, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and the different attacking players offering adjacent to thing defensively.

Portugal's lone convincing show came successful the dense triumph implicit radical weaklings Uzbekistan, which was not capable to unafraid apical spot. As a consequence, finishing 2nd carries a price: they look Croatia netw week and, if they progress, could past conscionable Spain oregon the runner-up from Group J — Algeria oregon Austria — successful the circular of 16.