Portugal Demolish Uzbekistan While Croatia and Colombia Advance
· 3 min read
Tuesday the 23rd of June delivered four matches across three countries, and by the final whistle the knockout picture had sharpened considerably. Portugal put on the most emphatic display of the day, routing Uzbekistan 5-0 at NRG Stadium in Houston to underline their status as one of the tournament's most dangerous sides.
Croatia edged past Panama 1-0 at BMO Field in Toronto in what proved to be a hard-fought affair, the single goal enough to send the 2018 finalists through. It was a result that demonstrated Croatia's trademark resilience, grinding out the points when the occasion demanded it.
In Guadalajara, Colombia defeated Congo DR 1-0 at Estadio Akron to secure their own passage into the last sixteen. A tight contest was settled by a single goal, but the three points were all that mattered for a Colombian side with genuine ambitions in this tournament.
The one side who will have gone to bed frustrated was England. A 0-0 draw against Ghana at Gillette Stadium in Boston means questions will linger about their ability to break down stubborn defensive opponents. It was a result that exposed real limitations in their attacking play, and the pressure to perform in their remaining fixtures now intensifies.