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:

 

Rui Patricio - 3 (out of 10)

 

A tricky afternoon for Portugal’s number one, faced with a high amount of crosses breaching his box. There was little he could do to deny the four goals conceded, however, making some decent saves along the way.

 

Nelson Semedo - 3

 

A torrid day for the full-back, totally swamped by Germany on the overlap and constantly drawn to the centre of defence to offer the space for Robin Gosens to thrive, although limited support on the flanks didn’t help the right-sided man either.

 


Portugal unravel in Munich: Germany 4-2 Portugal match report


 

Pepe - 4.5

 

The veteran’s certainly seen better days, kept busy by the movement of Germany’s frontline that enabled various pockets of space to be found by Joachim Löw’s squad.

 

Rúben Dias - 5

 

A valiant effort to sweep up wave after wave of German attacks, blending the Manchester City man’s performance with an unfortunate own goal and much of the same struggles his defensive partner, Pepe, was exposed to. Ultimately, one to forget.

 

Raphäel Guerreiro - 3

 

In a curious battle against Joshua Kimmich, Raphäel Guerreiro, much like Semedo on the opposite flank, was left for dead against the Bayern Munich man, adding to Portugal’s woes with another own goal for the Seleção das Quinas.

 

Danilo Pereira - 4

 

Second best in his battle against the creative minds of Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gündogan and the floating Thomas Müller, with a real lack of clarity also bothering the organisation between him and William Carvalho.

 

William Carvalho - 4

 

Comfortable, as always, which was also part of the problem. Far too passive in his defensive approach, adding to the issues against the German overloads in the final third.

 

Bernardo Silva - 4

 

The architect behind Portugal’s first goal with a top-quality pre-assist for Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener, but it was downhill from there for the Man City playmaker, anonymous in wide areas, defensively. 

 


Germany 4-2 Portugal match reaction


 

Bruno Fernandes - 3

 

With no way into the game for the ball-hungry midfielder, the evening was as frustrating as it comes for Bruno Fernandes.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo - 6.5

 

A true shame for the Portugal captain, who seemed to be in the mood for yet another big-game performance with a goal and an assist. Sadly for him, especially, the game plan didn't quite follow.

 

Diogo Jota - 7 MOTM

 

Another of Portugal’s positives, bouncing back from a vacant display against Hungary to also provide a goal and an assist of really quality against Germany. 

 

Subs:

 

Renato Sanches - 5

 

Positive on the ball and close to clawing a goal back for his nation with a thunderous effort from range, pinging off the post, but the midfielder’s second-half cameo was also riddled with his own struggles to help plug the gaps laterally.

 

Rafa Silva - 4

 

Not quite the game for Rafa Silva, who played his part in Gosens’ killer goal after allowing the Atalanta man to ghost in at the back-post and bundle in a fourth.

 

João Moutinho - 5

 

A calming influence in the middle of the park when on, but done so with the game pretty much lost already.

 

André Silva - N/A

 

By Patrick Ribeiro

 

Related: Hungary 0-3 Portugal player ratings

 

Comments (14)

This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site

After that tournament (probably after the France game), something has to happen. Ruben Amorim will not be available and is too young anyway, so NES will be the natural choice as successor for Fernando Santos. I set my future hopes in this. He's...

After that tournament (probably after the France game), something has to happen. Ruben Amorim will not be available and is too young anyway, so NES will be the natural choice as successor for Fernando Santos. I set my future hopes in this. He's probably rather conservative, but besides Amorim the only Portuguese manager who will finally introduce what should have been done since quite a time: A back 3 instead of the holy back 4. I mean it is so totally obvious that it would fit the team's characteristics best to have 3 centre backs and let the wingbacks Cancelo/R.Pereira and Guerreiro/Mendes thrive their flanks and do what they're best at. With Dias, Danilo, Duarte you can do that back 3. And sure even though Portugal is not blessed with additional classy centre backs you would find 2 subs too... Well, then it will also be no question that putting Neves or Palhinha in a 6 position then naturally leads to the further conclusion that Renato finds a spot to team up with Bruno in the CM/AM position. Many midfield subs are available. Then upfront a duo to be chosen from Jota/Ronaldo/Neto/Silva.
Santos is ok, but a cut is needed. I dare to say that this cut must encompass a new coach with a new system and finally please establishing a real "best starting eleven": Santos doesn't have that. He's constantly in doubt and as a result always comes back to his "play it save" fallback - the result has shown in this match against Germany. Side note: Rui Patricio is not as secure as he used to be and his distribution is below pathetic. After that tournament a new No 1 is required too.

Portugal after Euro 2020:

------------------------------ A. Lopes------------------------------

--------------Duarte------------Dias--------------Danilo---------

Cancelo---------------------Neves-------------------Guerreiro

-----------------------Renato----------------------------------------
---------------------------------------Bruno--------------------------

------------------Ronaldo-----------------Jota---------------------


Subs:
Palhinha as sub for any CB or for Neves
R. Perreiro and N. Mendes to sub Cancelo and Guerreiro
Moutinho as sub for Renato, Pote or Bernarod as sub for Bruno
A.Silva as sub for Ronaldo, Pote and P.Neto as sub for Jota

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Rolf Gerber
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Guerrero, Semedo, Danilo, B Silva, and Ronaldo were all playing out of their natural positions. William's injuries have caught up to him. B Silva is a better CAM than Fernandes. Jota did play in position and won man of the match (for Portugal)....

Guerrero, Semedo, Danilo, B Silva, and Ronaldo were all playing out of their natural positions. William's injuries have caught up to him. B Silva is a better CAM than Fernandes. Jota did play in position and won man of the match (for Portugal). This really comes down to coaching.

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Danny
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Fire this stubborn coach. Everyone could see what happened and Santos kept going back to players that don’t belong on the starting or sub team. If you are getting destroyed and basically do nothing then you are incompetent.

Rodrigues Antonio
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I am disgusted by some of the people on this site and the negative way in which they approach everything. The group stage hasnt even concluded yet, and we are still in with a good chance of qualifying, and people are talking about how Portugal...

I am disgusted by some of the people on this site and the negative way in which they approach everything. The group stage hasnt even concluded yet, and we are still in with a good chance of qualifying, and people are talking about how Portugal should lineup AFTER the euro and with a new potential coach. Get a grip honestly. I can fully understand being critical, but when our campaign is still very much alive, at least focus on that instead and the mistakes we are CURRENTLY making, rather than planning for the future already.
The more we become like the English press (overly critical of our own players etc), the more our team will become like theirs, overhyped whilst underperforming at every major tournament.
Forca Forever, Bring on the French.

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Kadir Paulo
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Paulo I totally agree with you, but this coach makes us want to listen to Fado 24/7. It’s a bit depressing that we have this talent and we are not using it. I have been following Portugal for a long time and our coaches always fall in love with...

Paulo I totally agree with you, but this coach makes us want to listen to Fado 24/7. It’s a bit depressing that we have this talent and we are not using it. I have been following Portugal for a long time and our coaches always fall in love with certain players when the game tactics call for the players sitting on the bench. Explain to me how out team was overran and Santos kept using William and Danilo. I don’t know what he got against Neves, or Renato starting in the midfield, but it obvious that when Renato came in the game changed yet again.

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Rodrigues Antonio
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Sanches should be included but have you seen Neves in the EPL? He is technically good but is slow and gets over matched against fast physical teams. He would have been destroyed against Germany. You don't need to believe me just watch him...

Sanches should be included but have you seen Neves in the EPL? He is technically good but is slow and gets over matched against fast physical teams. He would have been destroyed against Germany. You don't need to believe me just watch him play. In fact Neves had a stretch where he wasn't play much for Wolves.

I would not include Neves against France.

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Tony
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Paulo, i hear you but we want to win like champions. Not play like a wounded dog with his tail between his legs. We have a talented team. The match against Hungary was average at best by us. The game against Germany was an...

Paulo, i hear you but we want to win like champions. Not play like a wounded dog with his tail between his legs. We have a talented team. The match against Hungary was average at best by us. The game against Germany was an embarrassment. Maybe we tie France and get that famous third place again and we leap into the knockout stage. I guess most people on this site has set a higher standard for this talented group of players. That is where the negativity comes from. Tired of just making it. Our coach embarrassed us and it hurts.

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MrJohn
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@Rodrigues Antonio
I have no clue how to respond to your comment , sorry about that haha
I do agree with you in that sense, it seems that we like to make things difficult for ourselves. Even against Germany, at times when it looked like we could...

@Rodrigues Antonio
I have no clue how to respond to your comment , sorry about that haha
I do agree with you in that sense, it seems that we like to make things difficult for ourselves. Even against Germany, at times when it looked like we could break forward, the players passed it all the way back to the CBs and started all over again essentially. Possession is important, but possession just for the sake of it wont get us anywhere. I really hope that against France he will start Renato Sanches, and bring on players if necessary that can actually harm the French defence.
Lets see.

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Kadir Paulo
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Paulo - my English was terrible, but hopefully he starts Renato and changes up the midfield. Where is Felix?

Tony I have not watched the Wolves all season, you might be correct in regards to Neves. But my point is that William could not mark or...

Paulo - my English was terrible, but hopefully he starts Renato and changes up the midfield. Where is Felix?

Tony I have not watched the Wolves all season, you might be correct in regards to Neves. But my point is that William could not mark or come back.

Rafa subbing in for Bernando? Why not play the two sporting players who won something this year?

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Rodrigues Antonio
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It was a very bad day in the office for Portugal against a team that perhaps we and the rest of the world underestimated somewhat. But all of these comments asking Santos to go are frankly ridiculous. Who was the head coach when Portugal won the...

It was a very bad day in the office for Portugal against a team that perhaps we and the rest of the world underestimated somewhat. But all of these comments asking Santos to go are frankly ridiculous. Who was the head coach when Portugal won the Euro in 2016? Who was the head coach when Portugal won the inaugural Nations League in 2019? Fernando Santos. Now I'm not for one second saying that Santos shouldn't be criticised for this defeat, on the contrary. However we should understand and remember that our destiny is still in our hands, a draw against France will be enough to qualify. Winning and losing is a part of the game

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Humberto, London
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Its not the losing that is the issue. Its how we lost. Santos played the same 11 players against a stronger and faster team and did not adapt to the new opponent when he has 26 players to choose from. Did not change tactics or players...

Its not the losing that is the issue. Its how we lost. Santos played the same 11 players against a stronger and faster team and did not adapt to the new opponent when he has 26 players to choose from. Did not change tactics or players during game when we were being overwhelmed. Losing is one thing, being embarrassed when you have out talent of players is inexcusable. We were watching a train wreck in slow motion and no changes were being made.

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MrJohn
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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.

Frank
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@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...

@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 dominance and by playing beautiful, attacking football, would definitely be a lot nicer.
Hopefully we can make that change in this game.

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Kadir Paulo
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@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...

@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 wrong.

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Kadir Paulo
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