Portugal disappoints against Colombia: 4 lessons to remember

Arriving in Miami with the status of favorite by many observers to win the 2026 World Cup, Portugal left with just one point, second place in Group K, and above all few arguments to put forward. Against Colombia, who dominated the match with 26 shots against 13 for the Portuguese, Diogo Costa was the only Lusitanian hero by multiplying the decisive saves. The rest of the team mostly seemed to be spectators. For a draw, however, this match remains an invitation to wonder: is this team really a contender for the title? Here are four lessons learned from this 0-0 draw.

1. Portugal, an unconvincing contender. Despite expectations, Portugal was unable to convince. Colombia took control of the game from the kick-off, dominating the match with 26 attempts, a clear ball on the line and an imperial Diogo Costa. For their part, the Portuguese only managed two shots on target. The excuse of the heat in Miami, comparable to a sauna, does not hold since it weighed on both teams, and Colombia appeared twice as sharp. Roberto Martinez's team slowed down the tempo to better control the match and finally saw the Portuguese fall back in defense. Unbeatable in this group but only convincing against Uzbekistan, Portugal really hid its game if we were hoping for a real candidate for the title. The Portuguese bus this evening was well parked.

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1. Cristiano Ronaldo faces the reality of a solid defense. Cristiano Ronaldo's trajectory in this tournament resembles a real saga. Invisible during the first match against DR Congo, disappointing with few chances, the Portuguese icon reacted by scoring a double against Uzbekistan, becoming the first man to score in six World Cups. This Sunday, facing a robust Colombian defense, he was again very discreet. At 41 years old, it is normal that Ronaldo now struggles against better organized defenses. Roberto Martinez has already announced that he will not run CR7, counting on him for all the knockout matches. A risky choice since the rest of the tournament will pit Portugal against teams much stronger than Uzbekistan.

2. Colombia, the real scarecrow of Group K. Let's erase Portugal for a moment: Colombia were clearly the best team on the pitch tonight. Undefeated in this group, she emerged as the surprise of the group stage. James Rodríguez, at 34 and in his third World Cup, led the midfield play with experience, while Luis Díaz constantly created danger on the left flank. Davinson Sánchez even saw a goal at the very end of the match canceled for offside. Despite intense territorial domination and 26 attempts, Colombia failed to achieve success, which could become a major handicap during the knockout stages, where it is important to seize its rare opportunities. A team to watch, capable of the best and the worst.

3. Consequences for the final round. In the final ranking of Group K, Colombia finished first and will face a team ranked third in another group in the round of 16, a relatively favorable draw. On the other hand, second-placed Portugal will meet Croatia, led by Luka Modrić, on July 2. A real test. Another notable fact, DR Congo obtained its historic qualification for the round of 16 by beating Uzbekistan 3-1 and finishing among the best thirds. Their last World Cup dates back to 1974, when they were called Zaire. This exceptional course offers them a duel in the round of 16 against England. A real fairy tale for Leopards.