Portugal vs Spain: 5 Talking Points, World Cup 2018

FBL-WC-2018-MATCH3-POR-ESP
Cristiano Ronaldo sent David De Gea the wrong way to score from the penalty spot

#5 Isco and Andres Iniesta were Spain's key creators

Portugal v Spain: Group B - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
Andres Iniesta was as tough to dispossess as he has ever been

Andres Iniesta ended his career at Barcelona because he knew he was on the decline and couldn't put in the performances that defined his career. However, when he wears a Spain shirt, that twinkle in his eye still glows brightly.

This tournament is Iniesta's swansong. Aged 34, he will not make another World Cup. He's already left European football behind but the manner in which he orchestrated Spain's attacks suggest the magician still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Time and again he made runs to move the ball up the field and into the final third while he also managed to find space in a crowded box to get a shot off that flew just wide of the post.

He lasted only 70 minutes until he was replaced by Thiago Alcantara but this was also Isco's night to shine. No other player was so instrumental in moving the ball around and drifting into space to probe Portugal's weaknesses.

2018 FIFA World Cup group stage: Portugal vs Spain
Isco using the full width of the pitch

The Real Madrid man even had a shot on goal from distance that crashed into the underside of the bar but did not cross the line (goal-line technology confirmed it had not). When Spain needed a player to put the pressure back on Portugal, it was Isco that stepped up to the plate.

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Edited by Raunak J
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