Quarterfinals by Stealth: The Unspoken Story of World Cup Upsets The 2023 World Cup has been a tournament marked by surprise exits and upsets, but few have been as quietly significant as Portugal's quarterfinal exit at the hands of Spain on Sunday night.
Mikel Merino's late winner was the decisive blow for Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup campaign. Behind this individual drama lies a broader narrative of underdog teams pushing for spots in the knockout stages.
The tournament has seen an unprecedented number of upsets, with top contenders Germany and Brazil already eliminated, and England's exit to France sending shockwaves through the football world.