Camilo Vargas made a spectacular first-half save to stop Bruno Fernandes from putting Portugal in front in their World Cup 2026 group stage decider against Colombia in Miami on Sunday.
Atlas goalkeeper Vargas, who made his World Cup debut on matchday one, turned Premier League player of the season Fernandes’ close-range finish over the crossbar after Jefferson Lerma had slipped while attempting to intercept Joao Cancelo’s cross.
“It looked a certain goal,” former England international Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport, praising the 37-year-old’s concentration levels
“It’s a brilliant strike. Vargas just holds his ground. He stands tall for as long as he can, and that’s the key to it.
“[He uses a] big, strong right hand. It’s a huge save and a huge moment in the game.”
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World Cup 2026: Joao Felix ‘brilliant’ for Portugal
Joao Felix threatened to score for Portugal shortly afterwards, using his chest to surge on to Nuno Mendes’ long throw before firing over the crossbar.
“The touch is stunning,” purred Warnock. “It’s absolutely brilliant – just that chest to take it away from the centre-half, Davinson Sanchez, and then [Joao Felix is] just stretching ever so slightly.
“Bruno Fernandes thought he was in a better position to take that shot on, [but] such was the momentum of Joao Felix. He just continued his momentum.”
World Cup 2026: Portugal team vs Colombia
Portugal starting XI: Diogo Costa, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves, Vitinha, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto
Portugal substitutes: Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Nelson Semedo, Tomas Araujo, Diogo Dalot, Goncalo Inacio, Samu Costa, Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Neves, Goncalo Ramos, Francisco Trincao, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Guedes, Francisco Conceicao
World Cup 2026: Colombia team vs Portugal
Colombia starting XI: Camilo Vargas, Jhon Lucumi, Santiago Arias, Gustavo Puerta, Deiver Machado, Davinson Sanchez, James Rodriguez, Jhon Arias, Jefferson Lerma, Luis Diaz, Jhon Cordoba
Colombia substitutes: David Ospina, Alvaro Montero, Daniel Munoz, Yerry Mina, Johan Mojica, Willer Ditta, Kevin Castano, Richard Rios, Jorge Carrascal, Juan Portilla, Juan Quintero, Cucho Hernandez, Jaminton Campaz, Luis Suarez, Andres Gomez
Where to watch Portugal vs Colombia: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Sunday was at 00:30 BST (19:30 ET on Saturday / 16:30 PT on Saturday). In the UK, live TV coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Portugal vs Colombia stats
- None of Colombia’s World Cup matches have ended 0-0; only Austria (29) have featured in more World Cup matches without a goalless draw
- Only Argentina (31) scored more goals than Colombia (28) in CONMEBOL qualifying. They scored more headers (7) than any other nation
- Lionel Messi (8) is the only player to have scored more than Colombia’s Luis Diaz (7) in South American qualifying
- James Rodriguez led the assist charts with seven, which was three more than any other player
- Colombia boss Nestor Lorenzo is at his first World Cup as a coach but is one of three managers at the 2026 tournament to have played in a final at the tournament, having featured for Argentina in the 1990 showpiece against West Germany
- Lorenzo guided Colombia to their first Copa America final in 23 years in 2024, losing after extra time to Argentina
- Since Portugal’s best ever World Cup finish – third place in 1966 – their only other semi-final appearance has been in 2006, exiting against France before losing the third-place match to hosts Germany
- Portugal are one of five European teams to have made an appearance at every World Cup
since 2002, alongside England, France, Germany and Spain - They have reached the knockout stage at four of the last five World Cup tournaments and scored in 10 of their last 11 matches at the finals, the exception being their 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Morocco in 2022
- Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player to have scored at six World Cup tournaments and the only player – alongside Messi – to appear at six editions
- Selecao head coach Roberto Martínez is at his third World Cup as a head coach, having guided Belgium to a third-place finish in 2018 and a group-stage exit in 2022
- Martinez is the third non-Portuguese head coach to lead the team at the finals, after Brazilians Otto Gloria and Luiz Felipe Scolari
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