Spain edges Portugal 1-0 in tense friendly; Sutton slams Portugal's manager

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Sutton slams 'pathetic' Martínez for 'scandalous' mismanagement

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By Simon Smale

More from Chris Sutton.

I don't know if the lack of action on the pitch today has made him particularly cranky, but he is on a tear at the moment.

"What is Roberto Martínez doing? How can you pander to a player so much?

"His job was to try and win the World Cup and put the best team out for Portugal.

"Has he done that? Absolutely not.

"It's scandalous the way he has managed this team.

"He made a mess of Belgium when they had an opportunity of really doing great things with that golden generation; they ended up Belgian buffoons.

"Now Portugal, it was pathetic, pathetic to see a manager act in that manner, it really is."

Strong words from the former Premier League winner.

Ronaldo without a single assist for a chance for a teammate at this tournament

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By Simon Smale

Roberto Martínez slammed for Ronaldo role

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By Simon Smale

Here we go, the knives are out.

And rightly so, too.

Roberto Martínez is slammed by BBC pundit and former England striker Chris Sutton.

"Portugal go out with a whimper," Sutton tells the BBC.

"How did Gonçalo Ramos not get on the pitch?

"It's an absolute embarrassment from the manager, just pandering to his star player, the most decorated player that Portugal have ever had but you've got to be stronger than that.

"Portugal are out because of Roberto Martínez."

AC Milan striker Gonçalo Ramos scored the winner against Croatia.

Sutton thinks the Portugal players will be cursing their manager, and maybe even their star.

"The Portuguese players won't say, but there are a lot of them probably walking off the pitch thinking 'Ronaldo, you've killed us in this tournament, you're the reason we have gone out, you're the reason we have struggled in the final third,''' he says

"Gonçalo Ramos scored the winner against Croatia and didn't get a minute.

"Maybe he is injured, and we will find out later, and I will hold my hands up and say I was wrong."

Tears, and a wave goodbye from Cristiano Ronaldo

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By Simon Smale

Cristiano Ronaldo said this would be his last World Cup game.

He seems to be true to his word.

After the match he stood looking at the Portugal fans, soaking it all in, wiping away the inevitable tears.

He gave those same supporters a small wave and then exited stage left.

He ends with 233 international games, 143 goals.

Full-time stats

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By Simon Smale

FT: Spain outlast Portugal in tense contest

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By Simon Smale

A late goal to substitute Mikel Merino has given European champions Spain a nervy 1-0 victory over Portugal in Dallas.

In a game low on clear-cut chances and desperately tense throughout, Merino's 91st minute finish was a rare bright moment in a dour contest.

Neither team had much quality in the final third, Spain enjoying the best of the chances, with Mikel Oyarzabal's glaring miss inside the opening 10 minutes the most obvious chance.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a chance to hook the ball towards goal late in the first half, but was otherwise a peripheral figure in what he said would be his last World Cup game.

90+9' CHANCE PORTUGAL!

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By Simon Smale

It's a good ball, it's flicked on and that header goes just wide of the upright!

90+8' Last chance for Portugal

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By Simon Smale

Ferran Torres is booked for a foul on Francisco Conceição.

Everyone is up in the box for Portugal.

90+7' Spain makes a sub

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By Simon Smale

Borja Iglesias comes on for the final seconds.

Mikel Oyarzabal is off.

90+6' CHANCE PORTUGAL!

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By Simon Smale

Portugal finally gets a ball into the box and Bernardo Silva is the man who leaps to meet it!

He directs his header towards goal and heads it onto the roof of the net!

That was the chance.

90+5' Portugal's lack of quality showing

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By Simon Smale

The Portuguese are forcing the Spanish back deep in their own half.

But Spain looks very comfortable doing so.

Portugal are trying to move the ball around but the lack of balls into the box is killing them.

90+4' Renato Veiga is booked

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By Simon Smale

Brilliant from Lamine Yamal.

He takes the ball past Renato Veiga and forces the centre back to haul him down.

Clever football from a genuine footballing genius.

90+1' SPAIN SCORE!

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By Simon Smale

Mikel Merino pokes home!

Spain wins a free kick 30 metres from goal.

They take is quickly and Mikel Merino ghosts in between the defenders, a brilliantly timed run and he fires home!

A superb time to score for Spain!

90' There are going to be six additional minutes

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By Simon Smale

89' Yellow card

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By Simon Smale

Bernardo Silva is booked for a crude body check on Mikel Merino.

It's the first booking of the match - there hasn't needed to be any shown to be honest.

85' Two more subs for Spain

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By Simon Smale

Pedri comes off, as does Dani Olmo. He's been good, Olmo, so I am surprised by that.

Mikel Merino and Fabián Ruiz come on.

82' Subs for Portugal

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By Simon Smale

And still Ronaldo stays on.

Pedro Neto and Vitinha come off.

Bernardo Silva and Francisco Conceição come on.

Ronaldo will stay on throughout the game - that's all five of Portugal's subs that have been made.

They do get another one in extra time, which seems where this match is headed.

79' Chance Spain!

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By Simon Smale

Another one — Ferran Torres gets to the byline and cuts the ball back perfectly.

He is a focal point for the Spain attack that simply didn't exist before he came on.

Meanwhile, Portugal is preparing a couple more subs.

78' CHANCE SPAIN!

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By Simon Smale

Dani Olmo with a powerful drive!

He had space on the edge of the area and was played in by a lovely pass.

His shot was a great one, but was blocked by the Portuguese defence.