PortuGOAL

A hero from antiquity

How Bernardo Silva can reincarnate the mythical No.10 role for Portugal

Bernardo Silva.

Following another exquisite display of football genius last week, tribute for the Seleção’s most exciting player in years has rained down from all corners of the Portuguese supporter community. A well-taken goal and three assists hardly told the full story of Portugal’s diminutive midfield soloist, who headlined in an unfettered, central-midfield-wanderer role against Lithuania and Luxembourg which proved devastatingly effective.

In keeping with this site’s 15-year tradition of producing the world’s finest English-language content on Portuguese football, PortuGOAL.net has elected to highlight one of the relevant queries of this era of the Seleção - how best to inspire this squad through the greatness of Bernardo Silva?

Join Nathan Motz as he embarks upon a tour through football history trying to find the elusive answer.

Brian/RI/US — It takes a team of 11 and depth on the bench to win. I understand Bernardo is a jewel in this team, but even peak Ronaldo wan't enough for Portugal to win before the 2016 Euro. Hell, I'd argue Nani had just as good, if not better tournament. I'm more excited for the generation coming up. Most of t......

jon/usa — Great read, Nathan. All of the regulars on this site have been clamoring for Bernardo to play centrally for quite some time now. His form has improved since Santos' switch to the 4-3-3 at the start of the Nations League group stage, largely because he has been given more freedom to drift inside co......

Official: “Excited” Mourinho confirmed new Tottenham boss

José Mourinho has been officially appointed new coach of Tottenham Hotspur on a 3.5-year contract, after almost a year out of the game.

The Portuguese replaces Mauricio Pochettino, who left the London club on Tuesday evening. The job is Mourinho’s third in the English Premier League, having previously had two stints at Chelsea and a 2.5-year spell at Manchester United. His contract runs until the end of the 2022-23 season.

Sam — I could see Mourinho going after a loan for Diogo Dalot. I know that's an oddly-specific prediction, but Mourinho is the one that bought him from Porto and seemed to have some faith in him, and right-back is a thin position for Spurs....

Justin/rochester — @Joao Rosario That might just be the worst thing I’ve ever read. I truly can’t think of 1 reason why quaresma, Nani, Fonte or Manuel Fernandes would even contribute to Tottenham. Literally every guy you named above aren’t as good as what Tottenham already has. What you just said actually hur......

Joao Rosario — first things first. Mourinho should get some Portuguese players in first, who will 1000% obey him. he needs to buy at least 4 influential/ dynamic Portuguese players mainly to avoid players forming a union against him like they did at Chelsea and man united where he had 0 Portuguese players. But t......

Portugal U21 hold on with 10 men for vital 3-2 win in Norway

Portugal's U21 European Championship qualification campaign is back on track after a 3-2 victory against Norway at the Marienlyst Stadion in Drammen.

Fabio Vieira and Jota put Portugal 2-0 before Diogo Queirós was sent off, Florentino Luís extending the lead in the second half as Portugal survived a late Norweigan fight back.

Portugal survive Luxembourg to qualify for Euro 2020

Luxembourg 0-2 Portugal

Portugal were made to work for their ticket to Euro 2020 against a hard-working Luxembourg side that certainly had their moments. Bruno Fernandes' sumptuous goal at the end of the first half was quite possibly the lone bright spot of a very difficult opening 45 minutes while Cristiano Ronaldo added to his international goal tally just minutes before full time.

It was at times incoherent and undisciplined from Portugal with misplaced passes and poor decisions only complicated by the abysmal pitch. Many may remember it as the worst played match of the campaign, but Portugal survived what was always going to be a challenging final game and will now have the opportunity to defend their European title.

joe — Just when you thought Portugal couldn't play much worse than previously, they come with this stinker that almost sent them into a playoff from the worst group in the whole of qualifying. Mind you it may not mean a hell of lot in the end but their inability to change tactics whenever required, like w......

Angelo — , and the front three as an inverse <, so as a 4-2-1-<. Ronaldo and fill-in-the-blank as our two "high-flyers" with B Silva anchoring them just ahead of a Bruno, or again fill-in-the-blank. William and Danilo behind Bruno, and a Ricardo-Dias-Pepe(until proven otherwise)-Semedo....

Angelo — Justin, We can't play a front five like that. We need buildup play that otherwise wouldn't be there. We need at least two deep-lying mids and a c-mid in front to connect the back six to the three upfront. Let's play a 4-2-1-3...

Luxembourg vs Portugal preview - Portugal poised for Euro 2020

Portugal are overwhelming favourites to beat Luxembourg at the Stade Josy Barthel and secure their ticket to Euro 2020. Having annihilated Lithuania 6-0 at the Estádio do Algarve and with Cristiano Ronaldo on the verge of 100 senior international goals, the stage is set for another intriguing encounter.

Jerrold Hewson — I think Felix is sub par up front compared to Paciencia, well, at least from what I’ve watched so far, then again, it was different formations against different teams so.... I would like to see Santos do exactly what he did against Lithuania and see how we fare, I’d bet, we fair better than most......

jon/usa — Luxembourg are better than their small side would suggest. There is still a massive gulf in individual quality to between us and them, but in recent years they have given some very strong sides a proper fight. I'm pretty sure they even tied France in a world cup qualifier not so long ago. We will ......

Joao Rosario — Luxembourg are one of the tougher minnow sides. Unluckily for them they got themselves into an impossible group. Some of their players are top class. Especially Rodrigues who plays for Dynamo Kiev and their goalkeepers make tons of great saves. The key here would be to not rate them as another Lith......

Ronaldo hits hat-trick as Portugal crush Lithuania

Portugal 6-0 Lithuania

Portugal are one win away from qualifying for Euro 2020 after crushing Lithuania 6-0 in the Algarve tonight. Captain Cristiano Ronaldo got the ball rolling, scoring two goals in a one-sided first half. Little changed after the interval with Pizzi, Gonçalo Paciência and the brilliant Bernardo Silva adding further goals before Ronaldo completed his hat-trick to round off the scoring.

Victory in Luxembourg on Sunday will guarantee the runners-up spot in Group B and a berth at next summer's European Championship.

Joe — Settle down Gina. Pretty sure Ronaldo and Paciencia missed sitters inside the box....

Bart Smulders — Unfortunately I did not see the game, I am curious how well Pizzi did it with a starting place? with his pass awareness and scoring ability, he can give the midfield more dynamics than the older Moutinho / Mario. He could be the glue between the lines with Bruno and Bernardo been able to appose a th......

Daniel S — I really liked what I saw from Paciencia - a true #9 type. He looked like he complemented CR7 real nicely despite never playing alongside him. Tough to gauge since it is Lithuania. Luxembourg on the road will be more challenging. However, I hope Santos keeps a similar attacking lineup...cannot be af......

BRAZIL: Eight goals, 11 yellow cards and violent opposition coaches – Jorge Jesus reflects on Rio de Janeiro derby draw with Vasco as title edges closer

Jorge Jesus says he is keen to ensure his players avoid any emotional collapse, after watching Flamengo share eight goals in a classic Rio de Janeiro derby with Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã Stadium.

Flamengo twice led and twice trailed on Wednesday evening, with Vasco ultimately snatching a point in the 4-4 draw with a 93^rd-minute equaliser. Following a match with eleven bookings, scuffles between opposing players continued after the game leading to a remarkable attack on Flamengo striker Gabigol by a Vasco coaching staff member.

Portugal-Lithuania preview: Santos makes light of injury absentees

An injury-hit Portugal play Lithuania in their penultimate Euro 2020 Group B qualifier on Thursday evening. Victory in the Algarve, followed by another win away against Luxembourg on Sunday, will guarantee the reigning champions are part of the pan-European tournament next summer.

The Seleção’s preparations for the matches have been disrupted by a series of injuries, but coach Fernando Santos has no doubts: “I believe we will play two good games and we’ll win them. I’m absolutely convinced we will be at Euro 2020.”

Oscar Duarte — I believe you meant to write Ruben Dias, or maybe even Ruben Semedo in the predicted XI instead of Ruben Neves twice, no? Anyhow, these games should be a piece of cake for a team of our caliber. I’d like to see Ricardo Pereira play more....

Seleção podcast: Portugal head into Euro 2020 qualifiers with depleted squad

In Episode 25 of the Seleção podcast, host Danny Pinto and guest Nathan Motz, PortuGOAL’s Seleção correspondent, preview Portugal’s final two EURO 2020 qualifiers against Lithuania and Luxembourg.

Up for discussion among other matters is the rash of injuries (captain Cristiano Ronaldo is in doubt for the matches) that Portugal have suffered towards the end of their EURO 2020 qualifying campaign.

Portuguese Abroad round-up: Villas-Boas lifts Marseille to second; Jesus’ Flamengo go 10 clear in Brazil; Injury curtails Ronaldo’s evening; Fonseca’s ‘tired’ Roma beaten; Vital Everton win for Marco Silva

As we round up the remaining stories from the weekend across the world involving Portuguese exports, the country’s foreign-based coaching contingent made most of the other major talking points. André Villas-Boas leads the positive news, having ensured Marseille go into the international break 2^nd in Ligue 1 thanks to a 2-1 victory over Lyon in France.

Elsewhere, Jorge Jesus and Flamengo took a huge step towards the Brazilian title by coming from behind to beat Bahia, while Leonardo Jardim and Marco Silva were also victorious. Less good news in Italy, however, as Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo’s persistent knee injury saw his involvement against Milan cut short and Paulo Fonseca suffered defeat at Parma.