It might have been better for all concerned if Fifa had kept to themselves and not meddled in player suspensions, maybe then Portugal would have had a chance in this World Cup.As it was, the governing body suspended another ban they should have left well alone, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to play two games he should have missed and who knows what Roberto Martinez might have done when faced with the return of an ageing forward to a team that had already found its rhythm.On such decisions does history turn, and having squandered the talents of Belgium’s golden generation, Martinez has done it again with Portugal. Spain were far from their best, but did not need to be, and the 1-0 win over their neighbours leaves them waiting for the US or their manager’s previous charges in the quarter-finals.In truth, the game in Dallas had been relegated to little more than a side show once Fifa bowed to Donald Trump over Florian Balogun’s red card, and the clash between the hosts and Belgium in an hour’s time will not be the end of that story.Claim and counterclaim have been made while you were sleeping, but we’ll start in Texas and the end of an era.Spain’s Mikel Merino celebrates scoring his side’s winner. Photo: APA waste of talent