World Cup Day 22: Spain turn on style, Portugal leave it late | OneFootball

Thursday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 action saw Spain step up a gear to swat aside Austria, and Portugal play out an absolute classic with Croatia.

Here is our recap of all the action, including what you might have missed overnight.

World Cup Day 21 recap:

Spain turn on the style to swat aside Austria

Spain stuttered in their opener against Cape Verde, but the European champions have stepped it up since. La Roja reached the last 16 with ease after cruising past Austria, making it four consecutive World Cup games without conceding a goal.

Mikel Oyarzabal continued his remarkable record for the national team, scoring twice either side of Pedro Porro’s header. Oyarzabal has climbed into the Golden Boot race with his third and fourth of the tournament so far, while it’s now 23 goals and assists in his last 16 appearances for Spain.

The Real Sociedad captain also now needs only one more goal this summer to match Emilio Butragueño (1986) and David Villa (2010) for the most Spain goals in a single edition of the World Cup. Given his big-game record, it seems likely he’ll match that record. Portugal are up next in an Iberian Derby date.

Portugal leave it late in crazy Croatia clash

Portugal and Croatia produced a classic World Cup knockout game, a contest that featured multiple disallowed goals, a 94th-minute winner, and even later VAR drama.

Croatia took the lead when the evergreen Ivan Perisic fired them ahead early in the second half, only for a man four years the 37-year-old’s senior to level. Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the spot for his first-ever World Cup knockout round goal.

In between those goals, Ivan Matanovic and Ronaldo had goals ruled out at either end for offside, before Petar Sucic was the next denied by the flag, after he had run on to a through ball and finished confidently.

Roberto Martinez brought talisman Ronaldo off late on, but Portugal found a winner through one of their substitutes. Goncalo Ramos headed home in stoppage time, meeting Rafael Leao’s brilliant cross for the winner.

Still, there was time for more drama. Josko Gvardiol thought he had rescued Croatia when he equalised in the 13th minute of stoppage time, but the goal was again ruled out for offside.

Replays showed that Matanovic got the slightest of touches on a cross that fell to an offside Mario Pasalic in the build-up.

An unhappy Croatia head home; Portugal live to fight another day.

Manzambi magic helps Swiss see off Algeria

Few youngsters have taken their chance this summer quite like Johan Manzambi. The Swiss midfielder has made a major impression on his side’s route to the knockout stages, and was at it again against Algeria.

The 20-year-old’s stunning solo run was the deadlock-breaking moment against Algeria, as he powered forward to tee up Breel Embolo.

Dan Ndoye’s second secured the Swiss passage to the last 16, where Manzambi will have another chance to add to what has fast become a breakout tournament. Newcastle are keen on the €50m-rated Freiburg starlet, but competition looks likely to increase.

Read – Five world-class players who never featured at a World Cup

See Also – Every record broken in the 2026 World Cup group stage

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