Summary
Portugal came out of the traps like a train, and when Ronaldo scored after eight minutes, one suspected this was going to be a cricket score. But a combination of Igor Akinfeev – on his 100th appearance for Russia – and a growing bravery from the hosts made it a good game in the end.
The table in Group A now looks like this.
A lot will depend on the Mexico v New Zealand result (kick off at 7pm BST), but assuming that El Tri win that one, Russia look like they will have to beat Mexico in their final group game to qualify for the semi-finals.
Portugal look sure to win the group now, assuming they also beat New Zealand in their final group match.
Full-time: Russia 0-1 Portugal
Peep peeep. Too little, too late from Russia. But they tested Portugal in the second half, there is talent there. It’s just the tactics that are desperately conservative.
Updated
90+4 min: Some neat touches from Russia – a knockdown from Bukharov, a flick from Samedov – but Smolov tries his luck from 25 yards when he had team-mates screaming for the ball outside him. It’s fair to say that Russia’s manager, Stanislav Cherchesov, isn’t best pleased. That should be it.
90+2 min: Rui Patricio gets caught under a deep cross, and nearly turns the ball into his own net. Eliseu hacked the rebound wildly behind. Corner to Russia! Samedov delivers, and it’s a free header for Dzhikija at the back post. Oh! It’s over, that’s Russia’s best chance of the game!
90 min: Four minutes added on here, it’s on!
89 min: Penalty shout for Russia … nope it’s turned down! Bukharov went down flapping in the area, but replays show that Pepe was just too strong for the 6ft4in striker, who slipped more than anything. Russia starting the pepper Portugal penalty area. Say that one three times fast, I dare you.
87 min: Props to Danny Higginbotham today, the ITV co-commentator. As usual, he’s been informative, insightful and hasn’t dropped too many cliches. He made our season’s pundit of the season shortlist, by the way.
85 min: Glushakov pulls out a Marseille Turn in the middle of the pitch. Woof! Russia now operating in a 4-3-3. Five minutes to go.
83 min: Couple of changes to update you on: Russia’s Kudriashov trots off and Burkharov comes on. For Portugal, it’s Adrien Silva off, Danilo on.
79 min: An email from Matt Loten, regarding a point made earlier about Bernardo Silva.
“Surely Bernardo Silva has been signed as the long-term replacement for his namesake, David? Pep likes to shuffle formations, as well, and his ability to play off the striker, in a midfield three, or out wide, tucking in when full-backs overlap, make him an incredibly handy player to have in the squad. I think Pep has recognised how much more strenuous a Premier League campaign is on his charges than La Liga or the Bundesliga, and has decided that upgrades are required on Delph, Nolito, Navas, Fernando, and even Toure.”
David Silva is 31, not sure he’s going anywhere soon, it’s not as though his deteriorating pace is going to affect his game that much. Agree that strength in depth is vital when you’re fighting a war on three of four fronts, though. One thing about Bernardo Silva I have been quite impressed with in this game is his work rate: he’s protected Soares throughout.
77 min: Gelson Martins, the Sporting Lisbon winger who has obscene pace, is on for André Silva. He’s been linked with Liverpool recently …
Updated
75 min: Yellow card for Samedov, who halts Eliseu off the ball. Turning a bit scrappy this game, all of a sudden.
73 min: Cor, Portugal needed that break in play. Russia momentum seems to have stalled somewhat, and Portugal regain some composure on the ball. Nobody likes Pepe’s dramatics, but some would call that experience. A timely break in play for the visitors.
70 min: Nope, cleared by Portugal, and then Pepe clashes with Dzhikija, with the Portugal man collapsing in a heap. He’s claiming to have been kicked by Dzhikija … replays show there was definitely intent from the Russian No6. Just a yellow card, maybe a little lucky.
Updated
68 min: Every ball seems to be falling to a Russia shirt now, as cross after cross comes into the Portugal box. Russia are camped in Portugal’s half, they look hungry. Bernardo Silva brings Zhirkov down, yellow card for the Manchester City man. I smell a goal …
66 min: Russia make another change, their tails are up here, you know. Poloz on, Kombarov off.
64 min: Another missed chance for Ronaldo: this time he blasts his first-time shot over the bar from the edge of the area, after good work from Bernardo Silva.
In other news, Guerreiro is down injured. He’s had a horror second half so far, Eliseu on.
62 min: End to end stuff here: Portugal stream forward on the break, Andre Gomes gets to the byline, twists and turns to get away from the advancing Akinfeev, clips a ball toward Ronaldo, but the Real Madrid man glances his header wide! It was a little bit behind him, but he was unmarked and should probably have scored! We’ve got a game on our hands!
Updated
60 min: Russia go close! Suddenly the hosts have come to life! Samedov races down the right, floats a wonderful cross over and Smolov rises early, strains his neck and is inches away from connecting. If he got over that, it’s 1-1 for sure. Not one minute later, Russia come bounding forward again: a clever reverse ball leaves Guerreiro on the floor, with Erokhin’s cut back from the byline just avoiding Glushakov on the six-yard box.
58 min: Soares bangs one from range - replays show it is swerving all over the place – and Akinfeev just about gets his hands to the ball. Dzhikija does well to mop up the weekend, he’s done that a few times after the various Akinfeev saves.
56 min: Yellow card for Pepe, who blocked a promising through ball from Samedov with his hand. The Portugal defender has looked assured thus far though. He is set to leave Real Madrid this summer, and linked with PSG.
54 min: Good ball from Vasin releases Zhirkov down the left. It’s a poor cross, but Guerreiro makes a meal of his clearance, slicing it over his own bar for a Russia corner. Guerreiro was particularly poor against Mexico, but has had a good season with Dortmund.
52 min: Russia are looking a lot better, going forward at least. They are committing a lot more men forward, which is course could be their undoing. But at least they’re giving it a go.
50 min: The MBMer’s curse! Just as a write that, Andre Silva so nearly scores: again it’s an absolutely remarkable save from Akinfeev! Again, it’s a simple cross that so nearly catches out Russia’s back three, this time from the right hand side. André Silva steals a march on his marker, heads the ball towards the far corner from five yards out … Akinfeev is going the wrong way, but flings out a hand and tips it wide. WHAT. A. SAVE.
Updated
48 min: Haven’t seen much of André Silva, the striker which Milan have just paid €38m for. Ronaldo had this to say about the 21-year-old recently: “When I retire, Portugal will be in good hands because they’ve already found a great striker: Andre Silva.”
Peeeeeep! And we’re off again. Russian, thankfully, have made a change. Erokhin on, Shishkin hooked.
Russian speakers, any idea what Smolov’s tattoo says on his hand? It is just a translation of free? Asking for a friend.
Fedor Smolov had scored in 3⃣of his last 4⃣appearances for 🇷🇺ahead of #RUSPOR.
— #ConfedCup (@FIFAcom) June 21, 2017
Can he get on the scoresheet in the 2nd half?#ConfedCup pic.twitter.com/vbqEzSTPiz
Half-time quiz
If you’re wondering where Renato Sanches is – the man that started for Portugal in the Euro 2016 final last summer and moved to Bayern Munich for €35m plus add-ons – he’s now only on the bench for Portugal’s U-21s at the Euros in Poland.
Here’s Barney Ronay’s take on the 19-year-old, from a few weeks ago …
Updated
Half-time: Russia 0-1 Portugal
Let’s hope Russia make a few changes at the break. Would like to see Poloz – he was bright about New Zealand. Crucially, he’s quite quick.
45 min: One minute added on here.
43 min: Portugal by far the superior side, but just as against Mexico, they haven’t pressed home their advantage properly. You suspect they’ve got a few more gears to go through, though, if they need to.
Updated
40 min: Chance for Russia – their first real one of the match! Golovin gets clear down the left, cuts a bouncing ball back to Smolov, but the striker skews his finish well wide. Took the ball on the left foot, when he should have swept the ball in with his right.
To be fair to this Russian crowd, they are making themselves heard on the odd occasion that Russia do get forward.
38 min: Andre Gomes and Bernardo Silva have swapped flanks, the latter now playing on the left.
36 min: No pace in this Russian side, which means that even though they are defending deep, they also can’t cause Portugal cold on the counter attack.
Russia playing like England, slow at breaking from defence to attack.Rus are very poor.
— Terence Welch @gmail (@TerenceWelchgm1) June 21, 2017
33 min: Russia have reverted to playing desperately poorly. A few times they have simply passed the ball to the feet of a Portugal player, Glushakov and Shishkin particularly guilty. It’s increasingly looking like the 2-0 win over New Zealand looks more a reflection of the quality of the Australasian nation.
31min: So nearly 2-0! And but for a wonderful save from Akinfeev, Portugal would have doubled their lead. Ronaldo was afforded a ridiculous amount of space in the box, a quick stepover and he released a fierce low strike from an angle, but Akinfeev got down well, and was lucky the rebound fell to a red shirt. Vasin was sent for a hot dog there, completely bought Ronaldo’s stepover.
Updated
29 min: Meanwhile Pepe is a little lucky to escape unpenalised after a tackle on Zhirkov, right on the edge of Portugal’s box.
@michaelbutler18 As a Mexico fan I care about Confed Cup greatly (I think most Mex fans agree). Don't get to play high quality teams often.
— Soccer Never Sleeps (@JerseyJonathan) June 21, 2017
Not today, Jonathan. They’re playing New Zealand later. But win that, and they have every chance of reaching the semi-finals.
27 min: William Carvalho turns on a sixpence to set up a Portugal counter attack and is caught by Glushakov. Referee Gianluca Rocchi should play advantage but he brings the play back and books Glushakov. The first yellow card.
25 min: Ronaldo fouled, just to the right of Russia’s box. He’s gearing up for one of those free kicks: chest puffed out, feet spread, eyes wide. It dribbles into Akinfeev’s arms. When did he last score one of those?
23 min: Russia looking a little better now. First Golovin makes a break down the right, his low cross is blocked. Then Glushakov hammers a long-range shot from range, again excellently blocked by Bruno Alves.
21 min: Manchester City fans will be delighted to hear that Bernardo Silva has been the best player on the pitch so far. But I still think it is an odd move, am struggling to see how he’s going to fit into the starting XI. But it’s about depth in quality these days. The Portuguese certainly has that.
Updated
18 min: Hi Michael, emails James Calder. “I wondered why the ITV4 commentator [Sam Matterface FYI] said Ronaldo still had “gas in the tank” when he scored. Then it dawned on me he was quoting lyrics from the new Killers song, The Man. Did anyone else cringe or was it just me?”
Think it’s just you pal. He does also have ‘money in the bank’ though. An offshore one, according to Madrid’s regional state prosecutor.
Updated
16 min: Kombarov and Zhirkov combine well down the left, and Russia win a corner. Despite the manner in which they conceded the goal, set pieces is one of the areas where they should have an advantage … but it’s far too deep, and Guerreiro easily clears.
Updated
14 min: Fourteen minutes in, and there’s already a Mexican wave going round the stadium. Maybe they are trying to summon the spirit of Chicharito.
12 min: Golovin, Russia’s playmaker, hasn’t had a kick. William Carvalho is all over him like white on rice.
10 min: Russia are going to have to come out of their shell now. Their formation of 4-5-1 and gameplan was geared towards a compact defensive performance. That’s going to have to change.
GOAL! Russia 0-1 Portugal (Ronaldo 8)
He’s been booed every time he touched the ball, so Ronaldo does what Ronaldo does. A nice switch of play from Bernardo Silva allows Guerreiro to gallop into space down the left. It’s a good cross to the back post, and Kudryashov gets caught under it, the ball sailing over his head. Ronaldo is there, completely unchallenged, and easily nods the ball past Akinfeev. Simple goal, his 74th for Portugal.
Updated
6 min: Bernardo Silva has looked lively in the opening exchanges. He’s won both of his two tackles. Still hard to believe that he wasn’t included in Portugal’s Euro 2016 squad. Not that that hurt them, of course.
4 min: Bruno Alves, now of Rangers in Scotland of course, wins his first aerial duel against Smolov, who is playing as a lone striker.
2 min: This already looks like attack v defence. Russia haven’t got out of their own half yet, and have twice ceded possession in their own half.
Updated
Peeeeeeep! And we’re off.
Russia in all red, Portugal in their changed strip, of mint green.
Updated
A reminder that Russia will qualify for the semi-finals with a win here. Portugal are not out if they lose, but will need other results to go their way. Mexico v New Zealand follows this match.
It’s tipping it down in Moscow! 16°C there. It’s far from a sell-out, I’m afraid to say.
The air conditioning at Guardian Towers has just given up. It’s 33°C here in London.
Updated
Big day for Igor Akinfeev, Russia’s goalkeeper and for all Football Manager legend. It’s his 100th cap today!
João Moutinho will also bring up his century if he comes off Portugal’s bench.
On a more positive note, read this from Shaun Walker.
I’m not trying to kill my preamble’s positive ‘vibe’, but Cameroon manager Hugo Broos is kicking off about the organisation of the Confederations Cup. This from Reuters …
Cameroon coach Hugo Broos complained of team buses arriving late and then getting stuck in traffic as he vented his anger over the organisation of the Confederations Cup on Wednesday.
Broos called on organisers to sort things out for next year’s World Cup, saying he had twice been angered by logistical glitches.
“We have a programme, we train at a given time and when you arrive at the hotel and don’t have dinner until 10 o’clock in the evening, it’s really unpleasant,” he said.
“I think things must be reviewed for the World Cup next year... How are you going to move teams around from the hotel to the training stadium to the match stadium?”
Broos said the African champions had arrived one hour late for their training session in Moscow after their bus got stuck in traffic.
He said there was a similar incident in St Petersburg, Russia’s second city, on Tuesday when the bus turned up 45 minutes late at the hotel and got further delayed in more traffic.”
Want to know a bit more about Manchester City’s new £43.6m signing Bernardo Silva?
Read this:
Watch this:
The teams
After promising changes in his pre-match press conference, Fernando Santos has made four changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Mexico: Bruno Alves in for José Fonte, Manchester City new man Bernardo Silva in for Ricardo Quaresma, Milan new man André Silva in for Nani and Adrien Silva in for João Moutinho. Looks like a 4-3-3, with Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo and Andre Silva leading the line.
Russia: Akinfeev, Samedov, Dzhikija, Vasin, Kudryashov, Zhirkov, Shishkin, Glushakov, Golovin, Smolov, Kombarov.
Subs: Gabulov, Smolnikov, Gazinsky, Poloz, Kambolov, Bukharov, Kutepov, Miranchuk, Kanunnikov, Erokhin, Tarasov, Guilherme.
Portugal: Rui Patricio, Cedric, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Guerreiro, Bernardo Silva, William Carvalho, Adrien Silva, Andre Gomes, Ronaldo, Andre Silva.
Subs: Jose Sa, Luis Neto, Fonte, Joao Moutinho, Nelson Semedo, Danilo Pereira, Pizzi, Nani, Gelson Martins, Eliseu, Quaresma, Beto.
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
Updated
Preamble
How much do you really care about the Confederations Cup? For you, reader, it might be a good way to waste a Wednesday, some light entertainment in between your regular trips to the office water fountain and some FaceTime with the desk fan. It’s hard to see how Portugal are motivated for this one: their players have enjoyed and endured long, hard seasons: they’ve won trophies galore in 2016-17, already secured big money moves to some of Europe’s top clubs and after their remarkable success last summer, the European champs could probably do without another tournament that, at best, will only be a footnote in their careers.
For Russia, it is a whole different ball game. They really care about the Confederations Cup. One year until they host the World Cup, off the pitch it is about proving to the globe that their stadiums and infrastructure are ready to host next summer’s tournament. But on the pitch, it matters even more. The Confederations Cup is the only competitive football that they have played since Euro 2016 and the only competitive football that they will play before the World Cup group stages. Every single member of Russia’s squad plays in Russia, and the Confederations Cup is widely seen as the best way to help secure a move this summer, so that their players can play at a higher level before next summer. One of the favourites to earn a move, Fedor Smolov, who scored against New Zealand in Russia’s win over New Zealand on Saturday, has even admitted: “Let’s be honest: the European leagues are better and stronger, and if players are playing on a higher level it means we are better prepared for the national team.”
What was evident against New Zealand was flowing football, with a lot of genuine enthusiasm in the stands, something that has been missing for years. After Gus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat and Fabio Capello, Russia now have a home grown coach in Stanislav Cherchesov, who has guided them to a win over Hungary and a respectable draws against Belgium and Chile in recent months. Russia appear to have got their fire back, let’s see if it is still burning after an afternoon with Cristiano Ronaldo and co.
Kick off: 4pm BST
Updated
