VAR saves Portugal from defeat. Who will Ronaldo face in the World Cup playoffs

On June 28, the final round of group stage matches took place in Group K at the World Cup. As a result of these showdowns, two more teams booked their spots in the knockout stage, locking in another pair of fixtures for the round of 16.

The Colombian national team was denied a potential three points in dramatic fashion against Portugal—their late goal was chalked off after a tense VAR review. In stoppage time, defender Davinson Sánchez found the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations among the Colombians. But their joy was short-lived. The referees intervened on the advice of the video assistant referee system and initiated a close investigation of the play. The replay revealed a razor-thin margin—offside by mere millimeters.

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In the end, Colombia settled for a draw with Portugal and held onto top spot in the group. Ronaldo and company finished second and will now face Croatia in the knockout round. Colombia, meanwhile, will take on African representatives Ghana. DR Congo also advanced to the playoffs, while South Korea bowed out of the tournament.