Highlights, Uruguay vs Portugal, FIFA World Cup 2018, Round of 16 in Sochi: Uruguay set up QF clash with France

URU 2-1 POR

Uruguay will now face France in the quarter-finals, who earlier dominated Argentina and that should be another cracker of a game between two attacks which are on song.

URU 2-1 POR

Portugal had been struggling even in the group stage and tonight’s midfield debacle of the European champions were foreshadowed against Morocco and Iran. Combined with Ronaldo’s inability to exert his influence as a sea of blue shirts outnumbered him in Portugal’s attacking third, this is one of the weakest performance Fernando Santos’ side has displayed in recent years.

Sadly

Both Ronaldo and Messi go home. Both remain without a goal in the knockout stages of any World Cup. Remarkable for 2 of the games all time greats.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 30, 2018

 URU 2-1 POR

Uruguay were incredible all around and have continued their unbeaten record which is in place since March of 2017. On a day when both Messi and Ronaldo are eliminated from the competition, the emphasis is certainly on team cohesion, for a determined yet understated display from eleven always trumps over individual brilliance.

Proper goalfest! 

Griezmann 13'⚽
Di Maria 41'⚽
Mercado 48'⚽
Pavard 57'⚽
Mbappe 64' & 68'⚽⚽
Aguero 90'+3⚽

Cavani 7' & 62'⚽⚽
Pepe 55'⚽

Ten goals - the most prolific day of knock-out football at the #worldcup since 17th June 1970.

Two semi-finals produced a total of 11 goals 😳 pic.twitter.com/wLMvqwoiFj

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 30, 2018

Tragedy for GOATs

16:45: Lionel Messi is knocked out of the #WorldCup
20:55: Cristiano Ronaldo is knocked out of the World Cup

Not a great day for GOATs. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/YwUCIdiLgv

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 30, 2018

Full-time! URU 2-1 POR

Some late drama as Rui Patricio comes up for a corner and connects. There are appeals for a handball but the referee as well as the VAR disagree and Uruguay hang on somehow to get past the line. Cristiano Ronaldo looks devastated while Edinson Cavani is ecstatic.

Full-time! URU 2-1 POR

It’s all over!

Uruguay clinch the match thanks to Cavani’s brace. They will France in the quarter-finals. First Messi and now Ronaldo. Crushing defeat to Portugal.

90+4’ URU 2-1 POR

We are well into stoppage time here in Sochi and another chance goes begging for Portugal. The Selecaos had won the header off a cross, but nobody was available to bury the layoff.

Quaresma goes into the referee’s ledger for trying to invent a free-kick.

90+3’ URU 2-1 POR

Angry Portugal players go berserk on referee for not giving a foul on Quaresma. Ronaldo recieves a yellow for his behaviour and if the team qualifies for the next round, he won’t play.

90+2’ URU 2-1 POR

Almost a third goal. Suarez does well to beat his marker on the right and delivers the pass to Rodriguez, who fails to control it.

90+1’ URU 2-1 POR

The normal time is over. The fourth official shows four minutes of added time. Four more minutes of Cristiano Ronaldo in a World Cup?

89’ URU 2-1 POR

Manuel Fernandes, Portugal substitute is on a different page than his teammates as he tries way too much on his own, opting to shoot from range on two separate occasions – allowing Portugal’s possession to evaporate.

Helping a brother! 

Cristiano Ronaldo helps Edinson Cavani off the pitch. 👏#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/f6jlhgn3XG

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 30, 2018

86’ URU 2-1 POR

Messi is out. Will Ronaldo join him today? Less than 5 minutes left for the 90.

83’ URU 2-1 POR

Quaresma with his trademark outside the boot cross but it’s too much for Ronaldo in the box. Time’s running out for Portugal. Meanwhile, Manuel Fernandes replaces Mario.

81’ URU 2-1 POR

What’s the point of a short corner if you end up losing the ball? Questionable tactics from Portugal who simply cannot find a way through the Garra Charrua, who are defending like their life depends on it.

81’ URU 2-1 POR

Yet another change for Uruguay as play stops before a Portugal corner. Nandez is off and Sanchez is in.

79’ URU 2-1 POR

This has been such a meek performance from Portugal and Ronaldo and not for the lack of trying. Uruguay have strived for it more and the Portuguese have lost the battles in the midfield and the tussles in the opposite half. As it stands, this could be Ronaldo’s last ever World Cup appearance with Portugal heading out.

This is art! 

Bend it like Cavani. ⤴️#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/OrBLmN6ZBb

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 30, 2018

75’ URU 2-1 POR

The South American nation is also prone to mistakes at the back with Muslera spilling the ball onto Bernardo Silva’s path, but the Manchester City youngster’s shot sails over. The referee calls for a foul on the goalkeeper making the move irrelevant anyway.

74’ URU 2-1 POR

Two changes. Cavani is out and Stuani comes in. For Portugal, Andre Silva replaces Guedes.

Player! 

Edinson Cavani's three goals at the 2018 #WorldCup:

⚽️ Right-foot
⚽️ Left-foot
⚽️ Header

The perfect trio. pic.twitter.com/sB4GjsmOg2

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 30, 2018

72’ URU 2-1 POR

Creativity has been Portugal’s bane this summer in Russia and Uruguay have managed to keep the Group B runners-up quiet by forcing them wide. There is not much penetration through the centre of the pitch and Uruguay have faced no trouble whatsoever in keeping the crosses out.

71’ URU 2-1 POR

Oh what a chance! Muslera fumbles a simple catch, Bernardo Silva get the ball, controls it and smashes towards the goal with the goalkeeper missing from his position. He hits it wide. 

Meanwhile, looks like Cavani is injured

69’ URU 2-1 POR

The Paris Saint-Germain centre-forward has operated at a completely different level and has taken the game by the scruff of its neck, forcing Portugal to begin from scratch again. It took Santos’ side close to fifty minutes to find the equalizer, but now Portugal has less than half an hour to correct the course of the match.

67’ URU 2-1 POR

Uruguay defending in numbers. Quaresma with a good corner. Ronaldo rises high but misses the header.

65’ URU 2-1 POR

Portugal make their first change of the evening. Ricardo Quaresma comes in and Adrien Silva is off.

63’ URU 2-1 POR

With the goal, Portugal are now suddenly on top but…. Edinson Cavani pulls off yet another sublime finish to lift Uruguayan spirits. Getting the ball on the edge of the box, Cavani unleashes a shot straight away which flies past an outstretched Rui Patricio.

62’ URU 2-1 POR

CAVANIIIIIIIIIII!

You genius! Whatte finish to get back the lead. It’s Suarez’s ball again to Cavani on the left. The forward finishes with a beautiful curling effort.

60’ URU 1-1 POR

Pepe gets Portugal level with a bullet header as the centre-half towers over everyone else to guide the ball past Fernando Muslera. Pepe exploited the space offered to him in the box off the corner and has levelled up things at Sochi.

Really?

Always been a huge fan of Pepe.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 30, 2018

55’ URU 1-1 POR

GAME ON! 

Corner for Portugal and an unamrked Pepe with a thumping header to level the scoreline.

51’ URU 1-0 POR

Corner for Portugal. Bernardo Silva takes it, but it’s a weak effort. Portugal need to up the ante at least when it comes to set-pieces.

48’ URU 1-0 POR

A scrappy start to the second-half. Already a few fouls committed by both the teams.

45’ URU 1-0 POR

It’s time for second-half. No changes for either team. 

As it stands, Uruguay will play France in the quarter-final.

ZERO! 

0 - Cristiano Ronaldo had 24 touches for Portugal in the first half against Uruguay, but none of those came in the opposition box. Distanced. #URUPOR #POR #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/2ZE2EahrWe

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 30, 2018

Wow! 

Gary Neville on Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez: "I've loved every single second of their performance, it's a combination of a non-league striker's work ethic and world class ability." pic.twitter.com/XpL90U5nhE

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 30, 2018

First-half stats!

Ronaldo is…angry? 

What a face. 😂#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/AkcDDXE5KB

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 30, 2018

URU 1-0 POR

It has been a difficult half for Portugal with Cavani’s early goal being the only separator for two teams. The reigning European champions have registered 8 shots to Uruguay’s 4, but either team has had only 2 of those on target.

Half-time! URU 1-0 POR

Not purely entertaining but not boring either. Uruguay had one good chance and they buried it thanks to Cavani. A deserving lead nontheless.

45’ URU 1-0 POR

Two minutes of added time. Meanwhile, a good ball is delivered into the box but the Uruguayan goalkeeper is vigilant.

44’ URU 1-0 POR

A very bad play acting by Suarez. A push on him and he reacts as if he suffers a serious head-injury. The antics, I say!

42’ URU 1-0 POR

Also got to admire the work-rate of Uruguayan players. They are pressing the Portugal players and keeping the pressure on defenders.

38’ URU 1-0 POR

This is some contest between Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Godin. An accomplished goal-scorer vs the best defender in the world. So far, Godin is leading in the battle.

36’ URU 1-0 POR

Portugal are trying hard to break the strong defence of Uruguay. It will require a special effort to dismantle the organised defensive setup of a team that did not concede a goal yet in the tournament.

31’ URU 1-0 POR

Uruguay players are protesting against a foul decision by the referee. Ronaldo likes the distance. He takes his time and goes for the glory. The ball, though, hits the wall and it’s no longer a danger for Uruguay.

Best in the forward business! 

4 - Since 1966, only Grzegorz Lato & Andrzej Szarmach (5 for Poland) and Michael Ballack & Miroslav Klose (5 for Germany) have combined for more World Cup goals than Edinson Cavani & Luis Suarez (4 for Uruguay). Combinations.#WorldCup #URU #URUPOR pic.twitter.com/6u4exvH3HF

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 30, 2018

28’ URU 1-0 POR

The atmosphere is electrifying at Sochi with Mexican waves and synchronized claps making it a captivating audience. Portugal though are far from electric themselves and are struggling to get their rhythm going

26’ URU 1-0 POR

​Bernardo Silva wins a free kick on the right flank and the delivery is a piercing one, but nobody manages to get a touch on the ball in the crowded box.

26’ URU 1-0 POR

Decent free-kick but William Carvalho couldn’t reach the hight of the ball.

25’ URU 1-0 POR

Foul by Godin on Bernardo Silva. Ronaldo inside the box. J Mario to take it.

22’ URU 1-0 POR

Almost! Suarez’s low free-kick brings the best out of goalkeeper Patricio. Good stop!

21’ URU 1-0 POR

Suarez is everywhere! Portugal defenders are finding it difficult to track his runs. He’s fouled at a dangerous position by Fonte. Free-kick to Uruguay.

20’ URU 1-0 POR

Portugal are attempting to build up play patiently, but the La Celeste are crowding out their penalty box and not allowing the Portuguese to even take touches anywhere close to Uruguay’s penalty area.

Ferocious forward!

.@ECavaniOfficial has now scored 44 goals for #Uruguay. Four of them have come at the World Cup#URU 1-0 #POR#URUPOR #WorldCup https://t.co/yyL7jGd2m9 pic.twitter.com/Tmr4hFsTFG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 30, 2018

17’ URU 1-0 POR

Bernardo Silva looks lively for Portugal apart from Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s getting into good positions and has been keeping the Uruguay defenders busy.

14’ URU 1-0 POR

Uruguay are looking to attack from the right. Portugal are putting the bodies behind. Ronaldo takes a shot which is blocked by Torreira and the Uruguayan player is down. The power of the shot hurt him badly.

12’ URU 1-0 POR

Portugal have their task cut out, as Uruguay have not conceded so far in this tournament. And they almost level things through a Fonte header, only for it to be called a foul.

9’ URU 1-0 POR

It’s a dream start for Uruguay as Cavani give them the lead with an exquisite move. Cavani picked out Suarez with an excellent cross-field ball and then continued his run onto the box to get on the wrong side of Raphael Guerreiro and bury it with a spectacular header.

7’ URU 1-0 POR

A terrific start for Uruguay! ​

Cavani is the man! He gives pin-point diagonal cross to Suarez on the left. The Barcelona man takes few steps and delivers a brilliant cross to Cavani again in the box and the PSG forward makes no mistake in heading the ball into the net.

6’ URU 0-0 POR

Ronaldo’s first real threat. He plays the one-two with Silva and hits the ball on target. A simple save for Uruguay goal-keeper Muslera.

5’ URU 0-0 POR

First corner for Uruguay. Godin rises high. Portugal manage to clear the threat.

2’ URU 0-0 POR

Decent effort by Portugal. Joao Maria’s cross finds Silva, but his header is no good.

1’ URU 0-0 POR

The national anthems are at Sochi. It’s kick-off time. Both nations are lining up in variations of a traditional 4-4-2 setup as it remains to be seen who gets the upper hand over other among Santos and Tabarez.

The changes

Portugal have made three changes to the team which started against Iran while Uruguay have made just the one change to their starting eleven from their game against Russia. For Uruguay, it is Jose Gimenez returning to the fold but Portugal have chosen to start with Goncalo Guedes, Bernardo Silva and Ricardo Pereira to add a bit of teeth into their attacking setup.

Stat Alert!

Portugal are unbeaten against South American teams at the #WorldCup:

vs. 🇧🇷 (3-1 in 1966)
vs. 🇧🇷 (0-0 in 2010)

Just their third meeting with a CONMEBOL team at the tournament. 🌎 pic.twitter.com/rDhawf5AM9

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 30, 2018

Key stats

Uruguay are the only one of the 32 teams who started the World Cup not to have conceded a goal yet.

Only two members of the Uruguay squad play their club football in the country – defender Guillermo Varela and midfielder Cristian Rodriguez, both with Penarol.

Seven members of Portugal’s squad were born abroad – Anthony Lopes, Raphael Guerreiro, Adrien Silva (all France), Pepe (Brazil), Cedric (Germany), William Carvalho (Angola), Gelson Martins (Cape Verde).

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal’s most capped player and record scorer with 85 goals from 152 appearances.

Luis Suarez is Uruguay’s leading scorer with 53 goals in 101 appearances.

Portugal have lost only one out of 27 competitive matches since Fernando Santos took over as coach in September 2014.

Oscar Tabarez has been in charge of Uruguay for a remarkable 12 years and is now at his third World Cup of that spell. He also led them to the 1990 tournament in a previous stint in charge.

Uruguay finished fourth at the 2010 World Cup and were knocked out in the round of 16 last time.

Uruguay have won the World Cup twice (1930 and 1950) and were fourth in 2010. Portugal have never won it but were third in 1966 and fourth in 2010.

Previous meetings: They have met twice before, the last time in 1972, with one win for Portugal and a draw.

How will Uruguay vs Portugal play out?

The teams are out at Sochi warming up before a potentially tactical thriller between Uruguay and Portugal. After the goalfest at Kazan, this game is expected to be a cagey affair.

The teams have arrived! 

The teams have arrived for #URUPOR!

Are you watching the game tonight?
👀 TV listings 👉 https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018

Uruguay make one change

Jose Gimenez, replaces Sebastian Coates.

Portugal make three changes

IN: Ricardo Pereira, Goncalo Guedes and Bernardo Silva. 

OUT: Cedric Soares, Ricardo Quaresma, Andre Silva

The playing XI of both the teams are out

Uruguay: Muslera; Caceres, Godín, Giménez, Laxalt; Torreira, Vecino, Nández, Bentancur; Suárez, Cavani.

Portugal: Rui Patricio, R.Perreira, Fonte, Pepe, Guerreiro; W. Carvalho, Adrien Silva, Mario, B.Silva, Ronaldo, Guedes.

Suspension concerns

Seven players involved in this game are in danger of a suspension. If any of them get a yellow card, they will be unavailable for the quarter-finals.

Uruguay: Rodrigo Bentancur
Portugal: Bruno Fernandes, Adrien Silva, Raphael Guerreiro, Ricardo Quaresma, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cedric

Tale of the tape for Uruguay vs Portugal

“If you lose, you are going home.”

🗣 “A different competition is starting now because there’s no margin for error”@Uruguay’s @Vecino expects a tightly-contested Round of 16 encounter against Portugal 🇺🇾🇵🇹#URUPOR pic.twitter.com/2KowCn3UzZ

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018

Previous meetings:

This will be the third encounter between Uruguay and Portugal and their first at the World Cup.

They have not faced each other since July 1972, when they drew 1-1 at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium. Portugal are so far unbeaten in their two previous meetings (won one, drew one).

Weather report

According to reports in Sochi, the weather is very hot. It is currently 30 degrees and 70 per cent humidity. For today’s match, 29 degrees is expected. We will see how the players adapt to these conditions.

Can Cristiano Ronaldo add to his tally of four goals at this World Cup?

Ronaldo is Portugal’s most capped player and record scorer with 85 goals from 152 appearances. 

Only Eusebio (nine) has scored more World Cup goals for Portugal than Ronaldo (seven). All of Eusebio’s goals came at the 1966 tournament, making him the only Portuguese player to win the World Cup Golden Boot. Ronaldo will be aiming to follow in Eusebio’s footsteps in Russia. 

Currently, Harry Kane is the top goal-scorer with five goals. Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku are second with four each.

FIFA World Cup 2018: Tactical interplay, temperamental stars in focus as Uruguay meet Portugal in Round of 16 – Firstposthttps://www.firstpost.com

Read Sreya Mazumder’s preview of Uruguay vs Portugal’s Round of 16 clash

“Portugal and Uruguay are not familiar foes, but they base their individual gameplay on similar tenets.

Fielding variations of the traditional 4-4-2, both these nations prefer to apply pressure all over the pitch but prioritise caution over everything else — their modus operandi dominated by a strong defensive outlook which transitions into a deadly, rapid attack heralded by some of the game’s finest forwards.”

Can Uruguay repeat history?

Uruguay could win each of their opening four matches at a World Cup for the second time. In the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1930, they lifted the trophy after being victorious in all four fixtures.

Longevity is key

Oscar Tabarez (71 years and 119 days) will become the oldest manager to take charge of a World Cup knockout match. The only previous manager aged 70 or older in a knockout fixture at the tournament was Cesare Maldini (70 years and 130 days) for Paraguay in the 2002 Round of 16 (lost 1-0 versus Germany).

Tabarez has been in charge of Uruguay for a remarkable 12 years and is now at his third World Cup of that spell. He also led them to the 1990 tournament in a previous stint in charge.

Uruguay are the team at the World Cup not to have conceded a goal yet.

While Portugal have managed only one win out of their three group stage matches, Uruguay have a 100 percent winning record so far. 

Uruguay have won the World Cup twice (1930 and 1950) and were fourth in 2010. Portugal have never won it but were third in 1966 and fourth in 2010.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup!

Stay tuned as we countdown to the second Round of 16 match — Uruguay vs Portugal. 

La Liga rivals Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo will look to guide their teams into the quarter-finals when they meet at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi.