Phew! In what turned out to be a rollercoaster of a Group F participation by Portugal, the Seleção coach and players expressed their joy at making it through the knockout stage after a highly encouraging display against World Champions France.

It was a unanimous opinion that the team had done what they needed to do to bring about a vast improvement in relation to the previous match against Germany. PortuGOAL rounds up the post-match quotes. 

Portugal kept their European Championship defence alive as a 2-2 draw with World Champions France was enough to see them qualify for the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed sides, exactly how they progressed in 2016’s eventual tournament victory.

Here’s the PortuGOAL verdict on how the players performed on a high pressure occasion in Budapest.

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  Nelson — Renato was spectacular and I'm very happy for him. He has so much raw talent, good for him that he has turned his career around the last year. Ronaldo is clutch... two fantastic penalties taken under tremendous pressure. There were a few clumsy moments with him but all is forgiven when he is the d......
  Val — 1. Joao Moutinho has probably taken more flack from the Portugoal faithful than any other player ever and every time he proves how valuable he is. A legend. 2. Bernardo Silva is out of shape, its obvious by how quickly he looks like he is going to puke compared to his team mates who look fresh. He ......
  Neville — WE NEED TO PREPARE AND WIN THE GAME. The weather condition should play a major role, which would suite Selecao in Seville as is the same as that back home in Portugal rather than for the Belguim squad. In Brussels, the daily average in June - July is about 18.5 °C (65.5 °F), with highs about ......

Portugal 2-2 France

Portugal have made it through the round of last 16 of the European Championships after a Cristiano Ronaldo brace earned the Seleção a 2-2 draw and a third-placed finish in Group F.

Ronaldo placed Portugal ahead with a first-half spot-kick, meanwhile Hungary led Germany by a goal in the opposing game, but a couple of efforts from Karim Benzema either side of the half-time whistle had Fernando Santos' men facing elimination, momentarily, with France 2-1 up.

Portugal's skipper, Ronaldo, fired back with a second penalty in the 59th minute, however, to make it 2-2 before Germany took a draw from their game against Hungary in Munich, following the European and World Champions out of the group and into the next round of the tournament.

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  Andre/UK — A much improved performance from us last night, after the debacle against Germany. Credit to Santos for making the necessary changes in playing style, tactics and personnel. That was the exact midfield trio I hoped to see against France, after the Germany game, and really glad Santos went with it. O......
  George — What the hell does the universe have against Nelson Semedo? Poor guy gets humiliated and disproportionately blamed after a debacle in Munich again (thinking about the Bayern-Barca game), and tonight the phantom Mbappe penalty goes against him. Oh and he had to come off. Hopefully it was just exhaust......
  Joe D — Portugal played a tidy defensive game today while trying to get a positive result at the same time…. Still, disappointing that the midfield additions weren’t able to create more…. Other than blasting a clear chance into the stands I don’t know if Moutinho touched the ball at all…. Renato, ......

In a candid press conference on Sunday, Portugal coach Fernando Santos described how the debacle that was Portugal’s 4-2 defeat against Germany had left the squad extremely downhearted. However, the veteran coach said lessons would be learned and even predicted that if the two teams were to meet again in the final of Euro 2020 it would be the Portuguese who would come out on top.

Meanwhile, results in the other groups have gone Portugal’s way, with the Seleção almost certain to reach the knockout phase provided they avoid a heavy defeat in their final Group F match against France on Wednesday. On the injury front João Félix is fit again but Nuno Mendes is still unavailable for selection. PortuGOAL rounds up the latest from the Portugal camp. 

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  Matisz Medeis — We cannot have the mentality to go to Budapest to draw or lose by a certain amount of goals. We go to Budapest to WIN!!. No excuses. we were not prepared mentally and tactically against the germans not lets use this lesson to prepel ourselves forward!. this not a team from 2010 or 2016 where we hope......
  Nunogomes21 — For those of you who are thinking ‘as long as we don’t lose by more than two we are guaranteed passage’ need to check that mindset. That right there is a loser mentality and can cause great problems if the players or managers go into it thinking that. First reason is that losing doesn’t g......
  Los — Portugal is through as long as we don’t lose by more than two goals. Just play steady in the back and be patient for opportunities on the counter…Portuguese football 101. France won’t be looking to set the world on fire either as they won’t want to risk dropping from 1st to 3rd in the group....

Portugal lost 4-2 against Germany in Munich which puts their Euro 2020 campaign in a perilous position. PortuGOAL’s Matthew Marshall and Tom Kundert chat about the match and the upcoming game against France in Budapest. 

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  Tony — A few observations from past games against France where we performed well. 1. 0-0 Nations Cup on the road at France, 4-4-2 I think with a narrow, tight shape , Semedo played well in that game, he does have a few moments where he can perform. Our defense played very well in the game, very tidy conf......
  Hareesh,Kerala/India — Fernanto Santos doesn't believe in midfield game.But Joachim Low always believes in it.And Didier Deschamps also believes his midfielders very much.We can't win every game we play and we can win only few games without midfield....
  Joe — Dont be suprised if France play a 442 diamond (or 433...they are essentially very similar)...we need to match that...with whomever ends up playing or risk being overloaded in areas like against Germany. The Germany game is 100% a tactical disaster and what makes it worse is not player selection but ......

Portugal were back in action yesterday evening for their second Euro 2020 group game, falling short of expectations against a dominant Germany side that’d power to a 4-2 victory against Fernando Santos’ men.

 

As the inquest into the humbling defeat begins, PortuGOAL has its say on just how all in a Seleção shirt performed:

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  Kadir Paulo — @Rodrigues Antonio Dont worry about the English mate, it was very good anyways. But yeah I agree, Renato needs to start in this game. And hopefully Joao Felix plays as well, I havent been the biggest advocate of him since I believe he under performs for us, but maybe its time for him to prove us all......
  Kadir Paulo — @John Senos Yeah I understand your point completely as well. It would be nice to go out there and show our full potential, but we just havent done so at the minute. Even if we played bad football and won every game I wouldnt complain, results matter in the end. But doing it in the way you said, with......
  Frank — I haven’t been watching much club football but man has Bruno Fernandes looked terrible this tournament. It’s hard to imagine starting him again based on his performances thus far....

Santos: “The responsibility is all mine”

Portugal’s players were under no illusions after the chastening defeat to Germany in Munich this afternoon. Coach Fernando Santos admitted that his team defended poorly as a collective, while his opposite number Joachim Löw revealed it had been a deliberate plan to attack the Seleção from wide areas.

After a positive start to the tournament versus Hungary by the Seleção, which would have had betters backing Portugal’s chances at Fanduel Indiana, the reigning European champions were made to look very ordinary by a dominant German team that got their tactics spot on. PortuGOAL brings you the match reaction. 

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  Joe — Gentlemen, Let’s address the elephant in the room! Loyalty! You can not win prestigious tournaments with an aging starting 11! Santo’s loyalty to his older players will cost him his job in the end. How can you run with 20 something’s, its physically impossible....
  G.a.b.e.(Rbrha) — Who ever came up with the idea of having a tournament were some play at home and others don’t must of been dreaming.Well I hope is favourite team loses....
  Gabriel(Ribeirinha) — This game was lost on the wings.Germany had a plan it worked perfectly,it’s up to the coaches to notice this and make changes.I expect the same thing from France....

Germany 4-2 Portugal

Germany brought Portugal crashing back down to earth with a typically organized and tidy victory over the Seleção in Munich tonight. Portugal had started exactly as they would have hoped, denying the Germans while scoring a superb counterattacking goal on the quarter hour mark.

But aside from a second half Jota goal from close range, it was all Germany and Portugal are left needing a huge resurgence in their final group stage match against France. 

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  John Senos — I can understand losing. Tough fought match and we come out on the wrong end. But this is beyond losing. You are not adapting, adjusting, or modifying your play. You have 26 players and you don't devise the best team to match your opponent. You treat each opponent the same in a tournam......
  JP — @Chris. Man, you don’t appreciate my post anymore? I feel such shame. Yes, Pep overrated. None of the 30 trophies he’s won were due to him. It was all a product of being on big clubs. Same as Ronaldo. None of his trophies or goals count because most came with United & Real. I didn't think we......
  Joe D. — Thought I’d have calmed down after a good night’s sleep but after reading Santos’ mea culpa I’m even more pissed…. After witnessing his club looking more like a minnow than the reigning champ during the first half, he sends the same lineup out there with the same strategy to start the seco......

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  3. Seleção podcast: EURO 2020 - Hungary downed, Germany next up
  4. PortuGOAL EURO2020 podcast: Portugal off to a flyer!
  5. Euro 2020: Hungary 0-3 Portugal - Player Ratings

      

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The game against Germany served as a lesson.”

João Palhinha
(Portugal midfielder highlights the factor behind the huge improvement by Portugal in their final Euro 2020 Group F match against France) 
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