Chaotic isn’t the word to describe Spain’s build up to this. Some are saying that losing the manager doesn’t really matter when you have such good players. In which case, why the hell are they paid so much? No, Hierro was in an invidious position here.
Especially when Ronaldo earned an early penalty. The commentators first instinct of course was to doubt whether it was a foul because - well because it was Ronaldo, but it clearly was.
A great spell of football followed with both sides surging forward, and Diego Costa scored a brilliant equaliser after what looked a clear foul on Pepe but VAR declined to see it that way. Isco then smacked the bar and this time the Goal Decision Technology showed it hadn’t crossed the line.
Inevitably quality dropped a little after this frantic opening but things soon livened up again with Ronaldo’s second, thanks to a howler by De Gea amid some vague pleas for an offside.
Fantastic first half which still couldn’t stop Gary Lineker and co talking about England during the break despite the fact they don’t play for three days.
Nothing much happened in the opening nine minutes of the second period before Costa popped up with another equaliser and Nacho volleyed a stunner to put the Spaniards ahead. Portugal never quite got in amongst the Spanish defence again until Cristiano fired in a spectacular free-kick for the hat-trick.
A brilliant game, both sides happy enough with the point given their next two opponents. But think what Spain might have done with a manager.
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