Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup French players celebrate with the World Cup trophy after defeating Croatia in the final on Sunday, July 15. Hide Caption 1 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup French midfielder Paul Pogba celebrates with the trophy. Hide Caption 2 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup France mobs Kylian Mbappe after his goal gave the team a 4-1 lead. Hide Caption 3 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Croatia's Ivan Strinic reacts during the match. Hide Caption 4 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup France manager Didier Deschamps is lifted by his players after the victory. Deschamps was also a player on the 1998 French team that won the World Cup. Hide Caption 5 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a jumping save against Croatia. Hide Caption 6 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup French players celebrate after the final whistle. Hide Caption 7 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup French President Emmanuel Macron shows his excitement while watching the match. Hide Caption 8 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Paul Pogba, bottom, runs to the corner after scoring France's third goal. Hide Caption 9 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup France's Lucas Hernandez tackles Ante Rebic. Hide Caption 10 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup The referee used video review on this play late in the first half and called for a penalty after Ivan Perisic handled the ball in the Croatian box. Antoine Griezmann stepped up to convert the penalty and give France a 2-1 lead. Hide Caption 11 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Perisic, bottom left, scored a spectacular first-half goal to tie the match at 1-1. Hide Caption 12 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Will Smith and Nicky Jam perform during the closing ceremony held before the final. Hide Caption 13 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Belgian players celebrate Eden Hazard's goal in the third-place match against England on Saturday, July 14. The Belgians won 2-0. Hide Caption 14 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Thomas Meunier opened the scoring for Belgium in the fourth minute. Hide Caption 15 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford reacts after the first goal against Belgium. Hide Caption 16 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Mario Mandzukic scores against England late in extra time to give Croatia a 2-1 victory in the semifinals on Wednesday, July 11. Hide Caption 17 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Mandzukic celebrates after his goal. Hide Caption 18 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Croatia's Ivan Strinic, right, challenges England's Jesse Lingard. Hide Caption 19 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Croatian defender Sime Vrsaljko goes over Ashley Young for a header. Hide Caption 20 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup A photographer is knocked over by members of the Croatian team as they celebrate the late Mandzukic goal. Hide Caption 21 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Players collide during the Croatia-England semifinal. Croatia played 120 minutes for the third straight match. Hide Caption 22 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Lingard shields the ball in the corner. Hide Caption 23 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates at the end of the semifinal match against Belgium on Tuesday, July 10. France won 1-0 to advance to the final. Hide Caption 24 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup France's Olivier Giroud kisses teammate Samuel Umtiti after Umtiti scored on a header against Belgium. Hide Caption 25 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Giroud is challenged by Belgium defender Vincent Kompany. Hide Caption 26 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup France's teenage sensation, Kylian Mbappe, jumps over Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Hide Caption 27 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Thierry Henry, assistant coach for Belgium and former French captain, consoles Belgian players after the semifinal loss. Hide Caption 28 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Luka Modric jumps for the ball during Croatia's quarterfinal victory over Russia on July 7. Hide Caption 29 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Croatian players celebrate after defeating Russia in a penalty shootout. The match was tied 2-2 after extra time. Hide Caption 30 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Russian forward Fedor Smolov reacts after the Croatia match. Hide Caption 31 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Croatia's Mario Mandzukic, left, and Russia's Mario Fernandes go for the ball. Hide Caption 32 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Croatia's Andrej Kramaric celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Russia. Hide Caption 33 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup English defenders Harry Maguire, left, and John Stones celebrate their quarterfinal victory over Sweden on July 7. Maguire scored the opening goal in the 2-0 win. Hide Caption 34 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup English manager Gareth Southgate celebrates his team's win. Hide Caption 35 of 197 Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup Dele Alli scores on a header for England's second goal. Hide Caption 36 of 197<doc-sep>Richard Heathcote/Getty Images A brace from Edinson Cavani saw Uruguay edge out Portugal 2-1 on Saturday at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi to secure a quarter-final place at the 2018 World Cup. Cavani applied a fine finish to Rodrigo Bentancur's pass in the second half to seal the win. He had earlier linked up expertly with Luis Suarez to head La Celeste in front after seven minutes, only for Pepe to head home a corner after the break to level proceedings. Uruguay will be sweating on Cavani's fitness for the next round after he left the match midway through the second half with an injury, though. Cavani's Fitness Will Be Key to Uruguay's Chances Even before the tournament began, Suarez and Cavani stood out as one of the World Cup's deadliest duos; they scored a combined 71 goals last season for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively. Video Play Button Videos you might like What makes them even more effective for Uruguay is their chemistry, which they showcased by linking up superbly for Cavani to hand their side the lead just seven minutes in: It was a familiar sight for supporters of La Celeste: The Times' Henry Winter was impressed, while NBC's Roger Bennett noted the pair's remarkable connection: Suarez and Cavani have both found the net in three consecutive World Cups, and they have five goals between them here in Russia. After Cavani limped out of the match in the 73rd minute—having been helped from the field by Cristiano Ronaldo—all eyes will be on his fitness for the quarter-final against France. Suarez is still a threat on his own, but the understanding up front between he and Cavani makes a world of difference to Uruguay in the final third. Ronaldo's Legacy Secure Despite World Cup Exit It's fair to say Ronaldo did not have his best game on Saturday. Against Uruguay's organisation and tenacity, the forward cut a frustrated figure, per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan: Indeed, he offered almost no threat to La Celeste's goal in an ineffectual performance: There was little to no improvement in the second half, in which he also picked up a yellow card that would have seen him suspended for the next round. His missed penalty against Iran now looks even more costly, as it would have set up a last-16 tie with Russia instead of Uruguay. The Selecao talisman will be two months shy of his 38th birthday come the next World Cup, so this may be his last appearance at one, but his legacy for Portugal is already secured. His hat-trick against Spain and decisive goal against Morocco played a key role in their progression to the knockout phase, and the strikes also left him on 85 goals for Portugal, making him the second-highest international goalscorer of all time. Along with his indisputable record, he also helped the Selecao win their first major international trophy at UEFA Euro 2016. Despite suffering an injury early on in the final, Ronaldo remained on the sidelines alongside manager Fernando Santos to motivate the team. His failure to take Portugal further at the World Cup will hurt, but he's had a significant impact on their fortunes in his career. Uruguay Cement Contender Status with Defensively Resolute Performance Mooted as dark horses before the tournament began, Uruguay did little to live up to that tag as they scraped through their first two matches against Egypt and Saudi Arabia, respectively, with unconvincing 1-0 wins. However, after dispatching hosts Russia 3-0 in the final group game to become one of just three sides to take a maximum nine points and their resolute performance here, no one will want to play them. After they took the early lead, Corrigan offered a reminder of their incredible defensive prowess: They quickly showed just why they boasted such a record as they kept Portugal at arm's length, per Portuguese football writer Tom Kundert: While their defending for Pepe's goal was unusually lax—their players were drawn to Ronaldo, freeing up Pepe to make the header—after they got back in front they remained resilient for the rest of the match to grind out the win. ESPN's David Cartlidge was impressed: Quarter-final opponents France scored some superb goals in their 4-3 win over Argentina earlier in the day, but Uruguay are capable of going all the way, particularly if they get Cavani back. What's Next Uruguay will play France on Friday, July 6 at 5 p.m. local time (3 p.m. BST, 10 a.m. ET).<doc-sep>Portugal threw men forward, including, with seconds to go, its goalkeeper, Rui Patrício, but could not get another equalizer. Uruguay, a nation of just three million, is now back in the last eight of the World Cup for the seventh time. And Ronaldo is headed for the exit. In a show of sportsmanship, he helped Cavani off the field in the second half after the Uruguayan star injured his leg, and the crowd cheered the gesture. But nothing Ronaldo could do in the remainder of the game could truly rouse the fans again. —— Here’s how Uruguay defeated Portugal: 96’: Last-Chance Corner Portugal has sent its keeper Patricio into the box and he gets a head to it. But no. We’re well past the four minutes. 95’: Portugal Chance! Quaresma from 10 feet … but it’s straight to the keeper and saved. 94’: Foul? ! Quaresma of Portugal really, really wants a foul called when he’s brought down outside the box by Stuani. The ref, who has let them play in this game, says No. 91’: Ronaldo Shoots! Here’s an update to frighten Uruguay fans: Ronaldo shoots. But it’s from far out and wide. Four minutes of added time. 88’: Uruguay Applying Pressure Uruguay breaks two-on-one, but Portugal scrambles back on defense before they can get anything much going.<doc-sep>On a near-cloudless afternoon by the Kazanka River, Messi and his Argentine teammates were overrun and outmaneuvered here by a French team full of skill, speed, youth and, for the first time in this tournament, goals. Final score: 4-3 for France. [Up Next: Follow our live coverage of France vs. Belgium] Several hours later, by the Black Sea, Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates were finished off in Sochi by Edinson Cavani, who scored twice, and by a resolute Uruguayan defense. Final score: 2-1 for Uruguay. France and Uruguay will face each other in the quarterfinals on Friday, while Messi and Ronaldo, the two leading men of this era, face a decision about their future with their national teams. They have won national prizes: Argentina and Messi won Olympic gold in 2008; Portugal and Ronaldo won the European Championship by surprise in 2016. But the biggest prize keeps going to others, perhaps even to France or Uruguay this year. In a World Cup in which minor miracles have become routine in the final minutes, Argentina, in the first game of the day, never stopped pushing for the equalizer. But France and its fast-emerging superstar, 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice and drew a penalty to create a third goal, had put the Argentines in too deep a hole by then, roaring back from a 2-1 deficit early in the second half.<doc-sep>
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are heading home. Just like Lionel Messi and Argentina hours prior, Portugal is out at the 2018 World Cup after being thoroughly defeated 2-1 by Uruguay in the round of 16. It was a two-goal effort from Edinson Cavani, a goal in each half, that caried the South Americans within a victory of the semifinals. Going with a youthful midfield that played well, it was the veteran attack that dominated in the most important moments. Uruguay got off to a hot start, scoring before the game was even 15 minutes old. Cavani changed fields to Suarez, who returned the ball with a lovely back-post cross. The Paris Saint-Germain striker would make no mistake: And as Uruguay went for a second, Portugal was trying to figure out how to break down a defense that hadn't conceded a goal at the cup. But a high ball from the corner was the answer, with Pepe drawing level on 55 minutes with a fine header: But then, with the match still up in the air, Cavani showed his brilliance once again with a lovely one-touch curler into the far side of the goal on the counter with just under a half-hour to go: Uruguay held on the rest of the way, despite having just 33 percent of possession. Portugal had 20 shots, five on frame, while Uruguay had just five shots, with three on frame, converting two. The efficient Uruguayans move on to the next round where they'll play on Friday against France. Relive Uruguay vs. Portugal match commentary If the live blog doesn't load properly, click here.