WFI‘s Adam Brandon counts down to Russia 2018 with 90 World Cup goals in 90 days, scored in the minute corresponding to the day in the countdown.
Context
Portugal and the Netherlands had negotiated their way through the groups with relative ease and now faced each other for a place in the quarter-finals.
Portugal hadn’t been beyond the group stage of a World Cup since 1966 and were desperate to make up for their poor showing in Korea in 2002 and in their surprise defeat to Greece on home soil in the final of Euro 2004.
With Luis Figo past his best, Portugal had a new superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo who was fast improving at Manchester United. Against the Netherlands he was a marked man from the outset with the Dutch duo Mark van Bommel and Khalid Boulahrouz picking up yellow cards inside the first seven minutes.
The Goal
When Cristiano Ronaldo did get some space and time to cross he found Maniche:
What Happened Next?
The match descended into a farce with twelve players booked and four sent off, setting a new World Cup record.
Cristiano Ronaldo limped off with an injury. Portugal hung on for a 1-0 victory despite creating a lot less chances with a little possession.
In the next round they beat England on penalties before crashing to defeat in the semi-final against France.
Extras
All the major incidents of the Battle of Nuremberg…
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