All Santos needs to do is get the 11 right and get the hell out of the way. As seen today, it’s not that simple. Danilo isn’t a CB, I’ll take Pepe on one leg over him. Attack was bad, endless crossing to Ronaldo hoping he’ll get on the end of one. Played more fluid going forward when we had no other option. Expecting to go out the same way as last two major tournaments at this rate. Lacking any ideas.
Like someone suggested… Leao/Ramos/Felix start. attack, attack, attack… stop relying on CR to save us (santos wants that) JP is a big bruiser in mf, Pepe over Danilo… and start Jose Sa (although I think patty will start)
That’s the easy solution but Santos is stuck in 2016. and it’s not fair to guerreiro tbh, he doesn’t even play as a LB at his club team.
Rinse and repeat. I don't see Neves as good enough to start for Portugal, the hype he has since Lopetegui promoted him with 17 years old to Porto first team doesn't match with his performances. Of course Cancelo, Danilo, Guerreiro, Diogo Costa, Bernardo Silva also were bellow what is expected from them. It's not popular to say this but Fernandes received and receives a lot of stick when he plays badly for the NT and don't know why Bernardo never gets the same treatment. He is a likeable guy but come on he rarely does something special for the NT, and Cancelo first and foremost needs to focus on being reliable from a defensive point of view. At least let's see if we are able to pick a point against Uruguay, if we lose that game and they make 7 points even if we qualify we will be trashed by Brasil, make no mistake, and by God if I want to watch the brasilians I know here in Portugal smiling to my face when we get pumped by them.
The Korea game will be critical.. I'm predicting a draw or loss against Uruguay, we play like sh*t against aggressive teams which is EXACTLY WHY we need to start Palhinha, Antonio Silva or Pepe... I can't believe they actually let themselves get bullied by Ghana today, Portugal has some tough hombres but today they seemed their tails were tucked. Granted Ghana got away with murder and a ton of bullshit, the ref was sucking their balls all night long.. If the first goal was actually called correctly and our defense didn't pull a Germany v Portugal euro 2020 at the end, we would've won 4-1.... Also Uruguay is literally washed up.. If Korea didn't lose to them but we do.. That is seriously embarrassing given all this talent on the squad.. World class.
WHo's still relying on Ronaldo to save us? I'm not even sure FS wants Ronaldo either. He just has to put up with him, like the rest of us...
Some highlights from the stadium... actually my first time seeing either of these sides would you believe it...
He was funny and entertaining. Wtf? His trolling would keep balanced with the common pessimism, and opponent dick sucking posts around here.
Put Patricio back in. Diogo Costa although talented, he seems way too nervous right now. Too big of a stage way too fast. Need experience.
Luis Enrique twitch streaming and answering everything, even answering questions about whether he allows his players to have sex before games, saying he just doesn't want them having orgies before a game. Can anyone imagine Fernando Santos streaming on twitch?
Costa needs to play, he's never making that same mistake ever again. We need him to get his confidence, if we get through the groups he will be a huge asset if we get to penalties.
Just in case you guys have forgotten https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iBaVAZvPphQ (Serbia) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0EMvWEQulIQ (Belgium)
Watched it back last night after the Brazil game. Danilo he was not bad as every one is making out Costa only mistake not looking behind him he needs to start next match he has learnt his lesson, if he gets benched that’s going to kill his confidence big time. The problem last night was cancelo and Dias and plus we were to slow on our build up
Rewatched the game too. Agree on Cancelo and Dias. Bernardo is distributing the ball, and Otávio and Félix were taking the risking plays, Félix and Otávio were not as bad as I thought for instance the through ball to Ronaldo. We need a player, Sanches too. Next game would change out Otávio but keep Félix.
Dias hasn’t played with City recently so he’s not in form. Sure he tries hard and seems like a leader but I think he’s slow and his positioning is poor. palhinha needs to replace Neves and give Vitinha a run for Octavio. Play Cancelo at LB and Dalot at RB and bring in Pepe or Silva to replace Danilo.
Performance not brilliant but there are some positives. I felt as though Ghana didn’t have any intention of playing in that first half, they saw the game against Nigeria and obviously decided not to give Portugal that space, however when you take Nuno Mendes and Antonio Silva out of this side and with Cancelos out of character performance you lose a lot of directness in passing and intent. Dias and Danilo just don’t have passing ability of Silva who is more important than people think I’m Benficas passing game than people think which brings me to Neves. I live the bloke but he was terrible, the difference Williams passing made in that second half was extraordinary. Bruno and Joao Felix caused Ghana so many problems when collecting the ball in between the lines. I personally believe Pallinha needs to play in order to get Felix Ronaldo and Leao in the lineup, we’re really lacking that raw speed to give the opposition’s defence something different to worry about. I feel like Ghanas defence cheated a little by pushing the line quite high at time because Felix and Ronaldo won’t burn them for raw pace. Especially against Uruguay who I don’t think will sit deep and we will have opportunities on the break. Costa will learn from that mistake, top top and was luckily given a free lesion. I turned to my mate and said that he had no idea inaki was behind him which proved to be right. Yes keeper should always check his shoulder and defenders really should’ve told him as well. Poor all round Ronaldo has no sharpness laterally, straight line running is fine but turning he’s clearly not up to his usually standards. His vertical leap is obviously still there but Santos and the coaching staff need to tell him to limit his touches and release the ball quicker then get in the box for crosses, it’s the only way I can see him being effective this tournament. He’s lost a lot of things but his runs into the box and heading are still the best in the world. Defence was a shambles, granted both assist from the opposition came from deflections off our players which is hard to readjusted at such short distances but Danilo should’ve sorted his feet out and Cancelo was piss weak in that challenge. I’ll Be honest even as a benfica fan I didn’t think Antonio should of made the squad but the truth is I think he’s probably our most in form defenders out of the players picked, I’d like him to start the next game to take care of Nunez but I doubt santos will. Maybe if Ghana and Korea draw and we win he will rest players and Antonio and Pepe get a game but who knows Some positives, - 3 pts - draw in the other game - Ronaldo was subbed without a dummy spit - Forwards got on the scoresheet - scored 3 goals - overcame adversity and hit back with 2 quick goals - won despite an ordinary performance
Yeah because it was the 85th minute when they were up 3-1 and he already got his goal. Had it stayed 0-0 he would have been on the field the entire time with almost nothing but hopeless crosses towards him.
Ronaldo just skimmed the ball, bruno curved it perfectly. CR did not touch it as twitter bots were saying.