Jubilation for Rodri but heartbreak for Dias as Spain beat Portugal

City midfielder Rodri started for La Roja who prevailed thanks to Mikel Merino’s stoppage time winner after a closely contested clash. As a result, it sees Ruben Dias’ tournament come to an end with Roberto Martinez’s team eliminated at the last-16 stage at the hands of the reining European champions. The first sight on goal came from former Blues defender Joao Cancelo when he sent a stinging drive fly over the crossbar from range, but Spain should have gone ahead soon after when Mikel Oyarzabal beat the offside trap but dragged wide. In a pulsating first half, Nuno Mendes’ came close to an opener when his thunderous effort crashed against the crossbar via a Pedro Porro deflection. Following the interval, though, the tempo dropped with the last-16 tie becoming an increasingly tactical chess match. Lamine Yamal forced Diogo Costa to tip over the bar with just over 15 minutes remaining and Dias produced a heroic block to prevent Dani Olmo’s strike troubling Portugal’s goalkeeper moments later. Extra-time then grew in likelihood with clock ticking towards the 90th minute, but as the tie entered stoppage time, Arsenal’s Merino produced the decisive action when he collected the ball inside the area and coolly dispatched past Costa. It means Rodri’s Spain will play either the United States or Belgium in the quarter-finals.