Portuguese Soccer News

formerly Portuguese Soccer News Links

The Portugal Report 029

Edition 029 – June 29, 2024

Portugal National Team Euro Edition

Portugal finished at the top of their Euro 2024 group with six points gaining two victories over Czechia and Turkey in their first two games of the competition before suffering a shocking loss in final game to Georgia, a game that made no difference in the standings but hurt never the less.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished the group stage with no goals the first time that he has ever gone scoreless in a major tournament’s group stage. Ronaldo did pick up an assist in the nations second game against Turkey and has managed five shots on target.

Vitinha has been Portugal’s best player after first three group stage games

Roberto Martinez needs to stop experimenting with three backs in the tournament

Portugal set for round of 16, where they will face Eastern European nation Slovenia.

When the group stage ended on Wednesday, the most unlikely player on anyone’s lips, Vitinha, was the most impressive player during this round of Euro 2024. In a country with the likes of Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao and Bruno Fernandes, it says a lot about how great the 24 year old has performed in the two games in which he has appeared. If Portugal are to have success going forward in the tournament, they will need Vitinha and his four attacking counterparts to take their games to another level at Euro 2024.
Roberto Martinez seems to want Portugal to play a system with three center backs, but the Quinas have looked terrible in just about every instance of trying this formation. When Martinez called up five center backs to the squad, you knew this was on the docket, but when only one of the five plays this system regularly, it only does more harm than good. Let’s hope we never see Martinez bring this formation back during the competition.
Portugal will take on Slovenia in the round of 16 at Euro 2024 on July 1st at 20:00 WEST. The Quinas, who finished at the top of Group F, face third place holders Slovenia of Group C in what is a rematch of a friendly earlier this year in which Slovenia defeated Portugal 2-0. Portugal will be looking to advance to the quarter-final stage of the competition while also exacting revenge for the humbling defeat back in March at Stozice Stadium. The winner of this contest will take on the winner of France and Belgium on July 5th 2024.

EURO 2024 PAGE

CLICK HERE

Euro 2024 Portuguese Players of the Game

Game 1 vs Czechia

Vitinha

Game 2 vs Turkey

Bernardo Silva

Game 3 vs Georgia

N/A

Portuguese National Team Info Page

click here