Portuguese Football in English
Iceland-Portugal preview
As has so often been the case over the past two decades, the buildup to Portugal’s latest match has centred around one man – Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, this time there is no controversy in sight. When Ronaldo steps onto the pitch in Reykjavik for the Euro 2024 qualifier against Iceland, it will be his 200th cap for his country – the first male footballer to reach the landmark.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez was asked by PortuGOAL journalist Matthew Marshall about Bruno Fernandes’ star performance in the 3-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Lisbon tonight, in the post-match press conference.
The Spanish coach was only too happy to elaborate on the midfielder who has arguably taken over from Cristiano Ronaldo in recent times as Portugal’s key player.
Portugal maintained their perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying with a third successive victory in Group J, beating Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-0 at Estádio da Luz.
The Seleção struggled to find space against the well-organised visitors, but eventually broke through on the stroke of half time when Bruno Fernandes assisted Bernardo Silva.
Fernandes took over in the second half after being given more freedom to move forward, the playmaker scoring two goals as Portugal remain on track for a straightforward qualification to next summer's tournament in Germany.
Portugal-Bosnia preview
It was a huge surprise when the Portuguese Football Federation announced the name of Roberto Martínez to become Portugal’s head coach following the long tenure of Fernando Santos.
So far so good. The Seleção duly dispatched Liechtenstein (4-0) and Luxembourg (6-0) in his first two matches in charge, admittedly two of Europe’s weakest teams.
But it has been Martínez’s capacity to communicate clearly and logically that has stood out in the first few months of his time as Portugal manager.
In terms of being Portugal’s greatest player in history, it is pretty much consensual that Cristiano Ronaldo has surpassed Eusébio. Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer of the Seleção.
In fact, no player has scored more goals for any nation than he has, a record that is very well known to all sports institutions and all the best betting brands in Europe.
But there is no doubt that the current striker of Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr is living out his final years as a Portugal player at the age of 38, having left the scene of the world’s major football clubs and leagues. Although he will be over 40 years old at the time, he still has the ambition of competing in the 2026 World Cup.
Many believe, however, that he should step aside right now ahead of Euro 2024, let alone in the next World Cup.
