Portugal through with another dull show
Print Edition
PORTUGAL continues to be a paradox at Euro 2016, reaching the semifinals without giving the kind of performance that its talented team is capable of. Coach Fernando Santos was naturally delighted after his side overcame Poland on penalties in the quarterfinals after a 1-1 draw, yet, as far as the neutrals were concerned, it was another soporific display.
Portugal’s progress to the semifinals, without winning a match inside 90 minutes, has drawn parallels with the Paraguay team which managed to reach the 2011 Copa America final by drawing every game. The only difference was that Portugal at least managed to beat Croatia 1-0 after extra-time in the second round while Paraguay won both its knockout games at the Copa on penalty shootouts before coming a cropper in the final against Uruguay, which it lost 0-3.
The Portuguese have reached the Euro quarterfinals on all seven occasions they have taken part and in the last five tournaments have reached the final once and the semifinals three times. But there has been something strangely unsatisfying, and even exasperating, about their performances at Euro 2016. Their style of play is not defensive, they do not commit more fouls than anyone else and their average of 19 goal attempts per game is the fourth highest at the tournament.
On the other hand, their second-round tie against Croatia was dire and the second hour of the match against Poland lulled Marseille’s Stade Velodrome into near silence.
Its line-up suggests it should be capable of more. Three-time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, former Manchester United winger Nani, mercurial forward Ricardo Quaresma and midfielder Joao Moutinho have shown only the odd flash of their abilities.
Instead, Portugal has become a team which is difficult to beat, even more difficult to watch, and the talk after matches is invariably about unity, hard work and commitment. It is also clinical in penalty shootouts and converted all five spot-kicks against Poland.
“We are a team with great character. I continue to say I’m only going home on 11 July,” said Santos, who has insisted since the start that Portugal will reach the final on July 10. “You need to have courage to take penalties in a shootout, you need to have personality and cold blood, and the players had that.”
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