Portugal v Uzbekistan · OurXI

★ The storyline

Portugal are up and running

Portugal got the job done, 5–0 against Uzbekistan in the group stage. A good day at the office for ours — exactly the start you want, and the kind of result that makes the next one feel lighter.

TalismanDeveloping

Portugal put Uzbekistan to the sword

Portugal 5, Uzbekistan 0. A clean sheet and a comfortable win in the group stage — no fuss, no scare, exactly the sort of statement that puts a marker down for the rest of the field.

Why it matters

Group stage, Group K — points on the line.

Who to watch

Veteran

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal

The elder statesman chasing one final World Cup story — inspirational at his best, a delicate balancing act at worst.

Talisman

Abdukodir Khusanov

Uzbekistan

The defensive linchpin around whom Uzbekistan's miserly qualifying campaign was built.

Developing

Uzbekistan are out at the group stage

That's that, then. Uzbekistan are out at the group stage — the maths finally caught up. A disappointing end, but there'll be stories to tell and lessons to take from it.

Developing

Portugal are through to the last 32

Portugal are into the last 32. Job done in the group, and now the tournament really begins — one-and-done from here, every match a final.

Developing

Portugal bow out

And there it ends. Portugal fall to Spain, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

Developing

Portugal bow out

And there it ends. Portugal fall to Spain 1–0 in the last 16, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.