Colombia was left with the celebration on the tip of its tongue because of a toe; Portugal takes the matter of energy and character as a task for concentration if it wants to make history in the World Cup. 0 to 0 was not synonymous with boredombecause there were enough emotions beyond the fact that they did not materialize, but no one could have left completely satisfied.
Argentina or France? Spain or Brazil? Netherlands or England? More than the first place in the zone or the undefeated condition, the fact of being one of the last to define the positions in the initial round provides an advantage: “choosing” which key of the knockout stage seems least complicated to take permanence in the World Cup as far as possible.
Apparently, Colombia and Portugal started their clash in Miami with the competition map in mind, although practice would show exactly the opposite.
The lineup that planted Roberto Martinez seemed to leave no doubt that the Portuguese choice was to flee from the route on which France, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States will travelbeyond the fact that this implies a possible crossing with Lionel Messi and company in the quarterfinals. Among the eleven that faced and thrashed Uzbekistan there was only one change, that of one Neves for another, Ruben for Joao.
Nestor Lorenzoon the contrary, decided to save two starters who were largely responsible for the depth in attack in the first games, the full-backs Daniel Muñoz and Johan Mojica. Incidentally, it also gave him the (wasted) opportunity to show himself to Jhon Córdoba as a forward.
Half an hour later and for the umpteenth time, the theory had to be thrown in the trash. From the hand of Jefferson Lerma, the two Arias -John and Santiago- and Luis DíazColombia was the owner of the match. He had the ball, he recovered it quickly, he moved it judiciously and he arrived dangerously at the area. Córdoba twice and Arias from Palmeiras came close to scoring and the team showed a level of performance that it had not reached so far in the tournament. beyond the victories against the Uzbeks and Congolese.
The Colombians lacked concreteness at that time, an evil that not only afflicts them, to take advantage and begin to savor an eventual rematch of the 2024 Copa América final against Argentina. He then took advantage of Portugal to let him know what that sin could mean in the near future.
At 38, Joao Cancelo went all the way, put the center back and the hand of Camilo Vargas He saved Bruno Fernandes’ shot that was destined for the net. It was the bugle call that the Portuguese needed to react. Ruben Neves and Joao Félix had their chances and left the feeling that something could change after the break.
The Portuguese, in any case, once again exhibited virtues and weaknesses in equal parts, which forces us to doubt their true options to get involved in the big fight. They turn on when Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes or Pedro Neto they accelerate their march. They lack aggressiveness in marking in the middle of the field so as not to have to lock themselves too far back to recover the ball. Every once in a while they play a well-synchronized melody in the elaboration or appear to be fast on the counter. They usually end up paying the toll of compulsively searching for the definition of a Cristiano Ronaldo slow in the race and unable to win an individual duelwhich needs the final pass to land on his foot or head to convert it into a shot with a certain level of risk.
To a lesser extent, the second half would repeat the sequence. Colombia controlling the game, with greater participation from James Rodríguez although little from Luis Díaz, generating a barely wide shot from Richard Ríos to a low center from Independiente’s Arias, with a very good performance; a botched volley by Luis Suárez at 43, and even a goal was canceled by a very debatable offside by Davinson Sánchez in the first minute of stoppage time (the tip of his right foot determined the forward position). And a Portugal as intermittent and sometimes cold as some of its main figures, read Bruno Fernandes or Joao Neveswho entered after the break.
The closure did not cause anyone to celebrate. If Portugal tried to avoid the most powerful Europeans, they failed by a long shot, because they barely managed to maintain the tie. Colombia was at least able to smile. Even with some substitutes, he was much more than one of the presumed candidates to lift the Cup. The future will tell which of the two chose the most accessible key.
