Fernando Santos’s side has failed to win in 90 minutes at the tournament thus far, however remains part of the final four left standing in France.
Portugal lost just once and emerged victorious in their seven other matches during their Euro qualification campaign, but Santos’ men have failed to overly convince thus far in France. However, they still find themselves just a step away from reaching their second final at a European Championship.
While it is true the Seleção das Quinas are yet to record a win at Euro 2016, 61-year-old manager Santos has worked minor wonders with the side who are favourites to advanced to the final. That is, of course, if Wales do not pull off another almighty upset.
If Portugal do claw their way into the final, it would not be a surprise to eventually see them claim their first ever European crown. Ever since taking over in September 2014, after the nation’s shock 1-0 home defeat to Albania which saw previous manager Paulo Bento sacked, Portugal have not lost a competitive match. In fact, they won all of their remaining games in the Euro 2016 qualification stage, even if it was by a single goal margin.
Similar form has been replicated during the past month, however in not such a convincing manner. Santos and Portugal began their campaign with a 1-1 draw to Iceland, a match in which they dominated but failed to dismantle a resilient Icelandic outfit. Their second game against Austria saw Cristiano Ronaldo miss a penalty in a scoreless stalemate, however the against Hungary the Real Madrid star and Portugal hit top form in the final third, scoring three goals but carelessly conceding the same number. Finishing third, in what some people described as the easiest group of the tournament, was hardly an achievement to write home about.
In the knockout stages against both Croatia and Poland, extra time, and penalties on the second occasion, was required to find a winner. Despite the negative headlines, they always find a way to avoid defeat and for that alone Portugal deserve acclaim.
Much of the credit must go to Santos. In his previous role the veteran coach took Greece to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012. Two years later and he navigated Greece out of Group C and into the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first ever time, only to lose on penalties to surprise packets Costa Rica.
The performances may have been lacking, and it’s not football with any sex appeal but that won’t faze Santos and his players. Moreover, why should it bother the average fan? The Euro 2016 format of allowing third placed teams passage to the knockout stages should be the real source of frustration and disparaging rhetoric.
Greece shocked the world in 2004 with defensive, gritty and boring tactics which saw them exit the group stage by the slimmest of margins. Where was the vitriol and Twitter meltdown about their poor exhibition of football? Oh, that’s right, Twitter was yet to be founded, but you get the general gist.
Portugal may not have left second gear, however after reaching the Euros in four of their last five attempts they should be receiving plaudits not criticism.
It could be a historic time for Portugal to dispel their ‘nearly men’ tag in European football and despite underwhelming in the eyes of the football purist, Santos and his men have, together, garnered results. That is ultimately what knockout competitions are all about.
For this reason alone, Portugal deserve praise.
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