Costa, who made six crucial saves during the game, was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance in goal.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa has said that team captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes can help the European nation achieve their dream of reaching the World Cup final.
He made this known after winning the Man of the Match award in their goalless draw against Colombia—their final group-stage match, which was played at Miami Stadium in the early hours of Sunday.
Roberto Martínez’s men were fortunate to walk away with a 0-0 draw from a match that was largely dominated by the South Americans.
Costa made six crucial saves during the game, keeping his team’s hopes alive by preventing several expected goals.
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Following their draw with Colombia, Portugal will advance to the Round of 32 as runners-up from Group K.
Speaking after the match, Costa expressed his preference for team victories over individual accolades, stating that players like Ronaldo and Fernandes would contribute significantly when they are at their best.
As reported by O Jogo, he remarked:
“We aimed for a win. I would prefer to exchange the Man of the Match award for a victory. We disrupted the game too much, which was not our intention. Today, I was the one who made a difference; next time it could be Cris, or Bruno, or another player.”
The FC Porto goalkeeper also emphasised that Martínez’s squad is fortunate to have world-class players who have achieved considerable success at the highest level.
