World Cup 2018: Spain and Portugal deliver a match for the ages

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The United States men's national team failed to make the 2018 World Cup, but there's still plenty to be excited about.

Portugal and Spain, two teams ranked in the top-ten in the world, lived up to pre-match expectations on Friday. And it was only the fourth game of World Cup 2018.

On a day which saw only two combined goals in the first two games, Spain and Portugal had matched that in the first 24 minutes on Friday. The goals would keep coming for both sides, en route to a 3-3 tie between the likely top-2 teams in Group B play.

It took Uruguay until the 89th-minute to find the back of the net in defeating Egypt 1-0 (who were without star striker Mohamed Saleh). And it was an own goal late in the Iran-Morocco matchup that secured a 1-0 victory for the Iranians.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was much quicker getting the scoring going during the marquee matchup of day 2. 

Ronaldo -- who earlier in the day was sentenced for tax evasion -- was fouled by Spain's Nacho in the box, giving a penalty kick for the star. 

Needless to say, in the game's 4th-minute, he didn't let fans down: 
Portugal controlled much of the action for the game's first fifteen minutes. Spain kicked it into gear, missing on a few shots (including a save by Portugal's crossbar) before Diego Costa equalized things at one in minute 24.

Ronaldo struck again late in the second-half, striking a left-footed ball mishandled by Spain's goalkeeper to give Portugal a 2-1 halftime lead.

Not to be outdone by Ronaldo, Spain's Costa would score off a beautiful set piece in the 55th minute.
Three minutes later, Nacho would find redemption for his early-game foul, landing an excellent strike to the corner of the goal. Portugal seemed gassed, Ronaldo had been kept in check, and as we headed into the 87th-minute, Spain's 3-2 lead appeared like it was going to hold up.

Then we got to witness more magic.

A foul by Spain gave Portugal a free kick just outside the box. Ronaldo again stepped up, took aim to the upper right corner, and connected, landing him a World Cup hat trick to add to his lore.
If the entire World Cup is going to play out like this, count me in, eyes glued closely to the television.

Your move, Messi.

Group play predictions and more

Familiar countries like the United States, Netherlands, and Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. 

There are still plenty of reasons to watch.

Countries like Iceland and Saudi Arabia (which lost to Russia 5-0 to open the Cup) are here to announce their arrival. 

There is the question of which of the two greats, Ronaldo and Messi, might win there first cup.

The standard powerhouses of Germany and Brazil are present, as are England and France. Mexico and Costa Rica are two teams to get behind, while many wonder if James Rodriguez and Colombia can recapture their magic from 2014.

We've been through four games so far, but there's still plenty to play out over the next month. That being said, here are my predictions as to which teams will advance from group play.

  • Group A: Uruguay, Egypt
  • Group B: Spain, Portugal
  • Group C: France, Denmark
  • Group D: Argentina, Nigeria
  • Group E: Brazil, Costa Rica
  • Group F: Germany, Mexico
  • Group G: England, Belgium
  • Group H: Colombia, Japan
To keep up to date with the World Cup, sports, movies, pop culture and more, be sure to follow on Twitter: @jasonrh_78



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