World Cup 2018 - Group stage

Portugal 3 - Spain 3

Portugal: Rui Patricio; Cedric Soares, Pepe, Fonte, Guerreiro; Bernardo Silva (Quaresma 68‘), Moutinho, William Carvalho, Bruno Fernandes (Joao Mario 67‘); Guedes (André Silva 80’), Cristiano Ronaldo. 4-4-2.
Spain: De Gea; Nacho, Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Koke; David Silva (Lucas Vázquez 85’), Isco, Iniesta (Thiago 70’); Diego Costa (Iago Aspas 77’). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 04. Ronaldo (penalty). After Nacho tripped Ronaldo inside the penalty area.
1-1. 23. Diego Costa. Collected long Busquets pass and held off markers to score.
2-1. 44. Ronaldo.Picked up Guedes pass and struck shot through De Gea’s hands.
2-2. 54. Diego Costa. From close up after Busquets headed across Silva centre.
2-3. 58. Nacho. Latched on to loose ball and drilled angled shot in off far post.
3-3. 87. Ronaldo. Curled free kick over defensive wall wide of keeper.

Yellow cards: Busquets 17’, Bruno Fernandes 27’.

Spain kicked off the World Cup with a thrilling 3-3 draw against neighbours Portugal, a match worthy of a tie between the last two European champions. The game was overshadowed by the sacking of Lopetegui just two days earlier after the coach announced he had signed for Real Madrid, and stand-in Fernando Hierro’s first decision to play Nacho at right back appeared to have back-fired when he gave away an early penalty on Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo converted the kick himself, but midway through the first half Diego Costa battled through to make it all square, and Isco rattled the crossbar just two minutes later. With half time approaching Ronaldo restore the lead with a long shot which De Gea let through his hands, but within fifteen minutes of the restart Spain were in front, Costa turning in Busquets’ headed pass, and Nacho making up for his penalty mistake with an impressive shot in off the far post. Ronaldo saved the day for Portugal however, completing his hat-trick with a direct free kick with three minutes to go, and in the end both coaches settled for the draw.