Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot have been eliminated from the World Cup after Portugal’s 1-0 defeat by Spain.
The Manchester United pair started the last-16 tie in Dallas, but Spain went through after Mikel Merino scored a 91st-minute winner.
Manchester United confirmed that Fernandes and Dalot are now heading home from the tournament, with Portugal falling short of their target.
Fernandes admitted afterwards that Portugal had not achieved enough.
“I do not think we were successful,” he said. “We should at least have gone a bit further.
“It’s a disappointing moment. We came here with a very clear objective, which was to win the World Cup.”
Fernandes also pointed to Portugal losing control after the break.
“We were good in the first half, but then we dropped back too much and the opposition had far more possession,” he added.
“We lost to one of the title contenders, one of the favourites.”
United Pair Return After Portugal Pain
For United, the result brings two senior players back from the tournament earlier than they wanted.
Fernandes remains one of the club’s most important figures, while Dalot has become a reliable option across both full-back roles. Their exit now gives United a clearer timeline around their return before pre-season work builds properly.
Reuters reported that Spain advanced after Merino struck late, ending a tight game that Portugal could not control in the second half.
Fernandes’ comments were honest rather than dramatic. Portugal came into the tournament with major expectations and left before the quarter-finals.
For United, the focus now shifts to recovery. Fernandes and Dalot will need time to reset after a painful international exit.
