2 key passes, 5 clearances, 1 shot: United star’s standout display comes to nothing as World Cup dream is shattered

Manchester United duo Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot are in World Cup agony after Portugal were dumped out of the competition by Spain. Portugal exit Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino scored a dramatic late goal to book Spain’s place in the quarter-finals and condemn Portugal to another painful World Cup exit. The game was evenly contested for much of the encounter, with each team creating their fair share of goalscoring opportunities. However, neither nation could breach the other and it seemed like the game was destined for extra time. However, substitute Merino had other ideas. Slipped in behind the defence, he found himself one-on-one with the keeper and kept his cool, slotting home to book Spain’s place in the next round. Bernardo Silva went close to restoring parity for the Selecao, only to see his header flash over the crossbar. Fernandes was named in the starting XI by Roberto Martinez, while Dalot came on in the second half. United duo’s performance Fernandes fired one shot during the time he was on the pitch. Creative as ever, he delivered two key passes to his teammates. The United skipper delivered two accurate crosses from five attempts, while four of his 10 long balls reached their intended target. He touched the ball 67 times and failed to complete the one dribble he embarked on. Fernandes contributed defensively, making two clearances and five recoveries. The 31-year-old was effective in the air, winning his only aerial duel, though he won just one of his three ground duels. Stat CategoryDetailValue ShotsTotal shots1 Key passesPasses leading to a shot2 CrossesAccurate / Attempted2 / 5 Long ballsAccurate / Attempted4 / 10 TouchesTotal touches67 DribblesCompleted / Attempted0 / 1 ClearancesDefensive clearances2 RecoveriesBall recoveries5 Aerial duelsWon / Total1 / 1 Ground duelsWon / Total1 / 3 Dalot, afforded only 19 minutes, was introduced in an attempt to change the game but couldn’t quite deliver. The right-back made his presence felt defensively, winning his only tackle and prevailing in one of two ground duels. He also contributed a further three recoveries. The United defender touched the ball 14 times and connected with seven of the eight passes he attempted (88% individual pass accuracy). Stat CategoryDetailValue Minutes playedTime on pitch19 TacklesWon / Total1 / 1 Ground duelsWon / Total1 / 2 RecoveriesBall recoveries3 TouchesTotal touches14 PassesAccurate / Attempted7 / 8 Pass accuracyIndividual accuracy88% (Stats obtained from Sofascore) Fernandes and Dalot will now take time to recharge ahead of their return to United for pre-season, which gets underway in a few weeks. Featured image Lars Baron via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!