<p>In the final game of matchday 2 in the World Cup group stage, Portugal overcame a fiery Uruguay side to book a spot in the Round of 16.</p>



<h3>Whose goal is it anyway?</h3>



<p>Bruno Fernandes was the standout performer, and almost scored a hat-trick to top off an excellent performance. In the 54th minute, Fernandes curled a ball into the goalmouth, presumably intended for Cristiano Ronaldo who rose to meet it on its way to the goal.</p>



<p>However, Ronaldo never made contact with the ball. That did not stop him celebrating and taking on-field credit for the goal. Officials later confirmed the goal was Bruno’s. This goal may be a living metaphor for the off-field drama. A talented Portuguese side is sometimes overlooked for a certain forward who craves the glory and limelight.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bruno Fernandes gets the goal instead of Cristiano Ronaldo, but it&apos;s still a magnificent goal celebration <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CR7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CR7</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/POR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#POR</a> <a href="https://t.co/9K6MHo0gme">pic.twitter.com/9K6MHo0gme</a></p>— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1597326304902160384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h3>Ronaldo’s new role</h3>



<p>A case could be made that had Ronaldo not been there Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet would have collected the cross-come-shot. Could this be the role Fernando Santos has intended for Ronaldo all along?</p>



<p>Ronaldo’s presence on the field attracts defensive attention, which creates space for the likes of Bernardo Silva, João Félix, and Bruno Fernandes. Portugal dominated possession and created more chances. There was great forward intention as William Carvalho and João Félix made purposeful drives through the middle.</p>



<h3>Scoreline hiding the cracks</h3>



<p>Notwithstanding the final score it was not all rosy for Portugal. The scoreline did not tell the whole story. On the way to the 2-0 victory, Uruguay came close many times.</p>



<p>In the first half, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/tottenham-tv-schedule/">Tottenham</a> forward Rodrigo Bentancur ran past three Portuguese defenders before trying to slot the goal through Diogo Costa’s legs. Fortunately, Costa stayed close to the ground while making the save and Bentancur was denied.</p>



<p>In the 42nd minute, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">PSG</a> left-back Nuno Mendes was subbed off with an injury. Raphaël Guerreiro came on as a replacement. In the second half, Guerreiro was terrorized down the left side. Time after time the Uruguay attack was able to get past Guerreiro and get a cross or a cut back pass. The rest of the Portuguese defense was able to step up, but the weak spot was clear.</p>



<h3>What comes next?</h3>



<p>Portugal play their final group game against South Korea on Friday. With six points from their first two games the Portuguese are assured of their place in the Round of 16.</p>



<p>All eyes will be on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/what-each-team-needs-to-qualify-for-the-world-cup-knockout-stage-20221128-WST-410376.html">what happens in Group G</a> in order to see who their opponents will be. Portugal will need only a point to finish top of Group H. The winners of Group H play the runners up of Group G.</p>



<p>Though, mathematically, any of the teams in Group G could finish as runners up, it would take a combination of results for Brazil not to win the Group. This leaves the runners up spot open for one of Switzerland, Cameroon, or Serbia.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Portugal vs. Uruguay Highlights | 2022 FIFA World Cup" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iV1OVKEMlTk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<p><em>Photo credit: IMAGO / AFLOSPORT</em></p>


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Bruno Fernandes sends Portugal to last 16 at World Cup

Portugal battled to victory over Uruguay to reach the Round of 16. Bruno Fernandes scored twice and almost scored a third at the end.

Bruno Fernandes sends Portugal to last 16 at World Cup - World Soccer Talk

<p>The Portugal-Uruguay penalty controversy was one of many talking points out of Monday’s World Cup game, but there were other issues for Uruguay to worry about.</p>



<p>No width and no wits. That pretty much sums up Uruguay’s performance against Portugal in the first 60 minutes.</p>



<p>Despite the security of an experienced three man central defense and a forward line of Edison Cavani and Darwin Núñez to aim for, Uruguay’s wing-backs Matias Olivera and Guillermo Varela were anonymous. Just like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/uruguay-fails-to-inspire-against-south-korea-20221124-WST-409869.html">Uruguay against South Korea</a>, Uruguay’s threat mostly came from the central areas.</p>



<p>Federico Valverde and Matias Vecino in midfield were outplayed by Bernardo Silva and company. Rodrigo Bentancur was the only Uruguay player threatening to create anything in the first hour. He cut through the Portugal defense like a knife through butter in the first half with an amazing run which he was unlucky did not end with a goal.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Portugal vs. Uruguay Highlights | 2022 FIFA World Cup" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iV1OVKEMlTk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<h2>Back to 4-3-3</h2>



<p>Despite his questionable fashion choice of pairing oversized white trainers with a navy blue suit, there was nothing contentious with Diego Alonso’s substitutions on the hour mark. In came Facundo Pellistri and Giorgian De Arrascaeta as Uruguay moved to a 4-3-3. Finally, balls were being played to the wings (mostly Pellistri’s right wing) and crosses delivered. </p>



<p>Fresh from conceding the first goal, these substitutions galvanized Uruguay. Maxi Gomez rattled the woodwork and Luis Suarez narrowly missed the target from a couple of yards out. </p>



<p>As stoppage time approached, Uruguay were threatening to save a point. At least, until a penalty was given for THAT handball against Jose Gimenez.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fernandes stutters, pops it in, and it&apos;s 2-0.<br><br>Will that PK end up looming large for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/URU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#URU</a> if it comes down to tiebreakers?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/9MnusQL47r">pic.twitter.com/9MnusQL47r</a></p>— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1597332767007997952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>Law 12</h2>



<p>The International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) take on the handball law as part of Law 12 makes for an interesting read. In fact, a <a href="https://www.theifab.com/news/annual-general-meeting-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clarification</a> was issued a year ago regarding a handball offense. If a ball touches a player’s hand, it is deemed an offense if the said player “deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm” and/or “touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger.”</p>



<p>I think we can safely say that Gimenez did not touch the ball deliberately with his hand.</p>



<p>Did his hand position make his body unnaturally bigger? Possibly. However, how could Gimenez have prevented the ball from touching his hand? Once sliding for a tackle, it is very difficult to control one’s flailing arms. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That is NOT a penalty and is literally in the IFAB directory of what ISN&apos;T a penalty. <br><br>It can only be a penalty if it&apos;s a deliberate act. <br><br>This image is from the IFAB. <a href="https://t.co/LSGTzkinzq">pic.twitter.com/LSGTzkinzq</a></p>— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaleJohnsonESPN/status/1597332269709918208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>World-Cup deja vu</h2>



<p>Once such an incident goes to VAR, it is very difficult for the referee to not give a handball. This incident reminded me of Ivan Perisic’s handball offence during the 2018 World Cup Final.</p>



<p>Initially, it seemed the referee was not interested in giving a penalty against Croatia. However, once he made his way to the VAR monitor, you just knew that he was going to point to the spot. Again, Perisic’s handball was not deliberate and it is unlikely that he had control of his flailing arms as he jumped for a header.</p>



<p>Despite IFAB’s 2021 clarification, the handball rule is still as unclear as ever. Saying that it is a handball offense if the arm/hand makes a body unnaturally big is too vague.</p>



<p>Personally, I do think Gimenez caused a handball offense. By touching the ball with his hand and changing its trajectory, he denied Bruno Fernandes a chance to shoot from a decent area. Nothing to do with bodies being unnaturally big!</p>



<p>Ghana are up next for Uruguay. I wonder….did an <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/is-luis-suarez-a-hero-or-a-cheat-20100703-CMS-21721.html">Uruguayan</a> ever touch the ball deliberately with his hands to deny a goalscoring chance? </p>



<p>My mind boggles.</p>



<p><em>Photo credit: IMAGO / Sportimage</em></p>


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<h3>Guide to World Cup 2022</h3>
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</div>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/"><strong>The Groups:</strong></a> We <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">breakdown each group</a> and all the teams
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/"><strong>The Kits:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/">what every team will be wearing</a> on the field this fall
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/"><strong>Predictor:</strong></a> Play out every scenario with our <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/">World Cup Predictor</a>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
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Portugal-Uruguay penalty decision ends in controversy

The Portugal-Uruguay penalty controversy was one of many major talking points of the game after the Iberian side won the World Cup match.

Portugal-Uruguay penalty decision ends in controversy - World Soccer Talk

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Portugal-Uruguay penalty decision ends in controversy