Russia hopes for miracle

PORTUGAL’S forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Russia 2018 World Cup Round of 16 football match between Uruguay and Portugal at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi. AFP

MOSCOW, Russia — Russia is hoping for a World Cup miracle on Sunday as it takes on 2010 winners Spain for a place in the quarterfinals after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi exited the tournament.

The other Last 16 match pits a talented Croatia team led by Luka Modric that had a perfect record in the group phase against Denmark.

France beat Messi’s Argentina, 4-3, in a World Cup classic as 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe announced himself on the biggest stage with a superb two-goal performance and Les Bleus came from behind to send the 2014 finalists packing.

Mbappe became the first teenager to score twice in a World Cup match since a 17-year-old Pele in the 1958 finals.

The Brazilian legend tweeted to the Frenchman: “Congratulations, @KMbappe, 2 goals in a World Cup so young puts you in great company.”

Messi, though, was unable to find the net, leaving Russia with a single goal, and at 31, the Barcelona great has probably seen any chance of winning the World Cup evaporate.

Later in Sochi, Ronaldo, who started the World Cup with a hat-trick against Spain, was powerless to prevent Portugal slipping out of the tournament as Edinson Cavani scored two brilliant goals in a 2-1 win to send the European champion home.

Cavani, who lines up alongside Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain, opened the scoring with a leaping header and curled a superb first-time shot past Rui Patricio to win the match after Pepe had equalized.

Although the Uruguayan striker limped off, he later said it was only a knock and he expects to be back to face France in the quarterfinals.