Portugal were reportedly within touching distance of extra time before Merino appeared in the area and finished beyond Diogo Costa. For a team that had already faced a difficult route after finishing second in its group, the timing made the exit even more painful.
The loss also underlined how fine the margins are in knockout football. Portugal had progressed from the previous round with a late goal against Croatia, but this time the decisive moment went against them.
The Manchester United captain’s response focused on the collective rather than his own contribution.
“Este grupo de jogadores elevou minhas expectativas, não só pela qualidade, mas também pelo grupo incrível que construímos ao longo destes anos,” Fernandes wrote, describing a squad that had built strong expectations during the tournament.
He also thanked the players, staff and supporters, adding: “Obrigado a todos os jogadores, equipe técnica e todos os funcionários que nos acompanharam e ajudaram todos os dias durante a Copa do Mundo. A todos os portugueses, um enorme obrigado pelo apoio e pela confiança.”
Those words point to a dressing room that believed it could go further, even if the campaign ultimately ended without a place in the quarter-finals.
The defeat is also reportedly being treated as Cristiano Ronaldo’s likely final World Cup appearance. His visible emotion after the final whistle gave the occasion an unmistakable sense of farewell.
For Roberto Martínez, the ending appears more definitive: the match was his last in charge of Portugal, according to the report. The federation now faces a major decision over the next coach and the direction of the national team.
The next storyline will be Portugal’s rebuild-whether Fernandes becomes the central voice of a post-Ronaldo generation, and who is trusted to lead it.