India, July 7 -- Portugal vs Spain FIFA World Cup 2026: Super-sub Mikel Merino was the hero in a tense tactical chess match that looked to be heading into extra time when he struck a dagger in the 90th minute to send Spain into the Quarter-finals of FIFA World Cup 2026. The storied history of the Iberian Derby added another iconic chapter with a 1-0 win over rivals Portugal in a packed Dallas Stadium on July 6.

From the first whistle, both teams displayed the huge tactical discipline needed in a knockout game of this magnitude. Cristiano Ronaldo spearheaded Portugal in a solid 4-2-3-1 formation, with a focus on containment and counter-attack opportunities through Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto. Spain, conversely, operated with their typi...