How Portugal can get into the groove
Monday, June 20, 2016
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"We don't have to be worried – we need to be calm," Ricardo Carvalho told EURO2016.com, but what should Portugal do to get the goals flowing after two frustrating draws?
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Saturday night in Paris, under the lights in the city of lights; the glitz, the glamour. The stage was set, but the actors fluffed their lines. In front of a packed Parc des Princes, Portugal could only muster a frustrating 0-0 draw against Austria.
"We did more than enough to win," 38-year-old defender Ricardo Carvalho told EURO2016.com. "The team are still confident. We don't have to be worried – we need to be calm."
Indeed, despite the disappointment, the mood in the team's Marcoussis base remains upbeat and buoyant ahead of Wednesday's must-win clash with Hungary.
It is a game that coach Fernando Santos has already described as "a final", so what can Portugal and Santos do differently against the surprise Group F leaders to ensure they get a result?
Performances indicate there is no need for wholesale changes, yet there may be room for a few tweaks. Profligacy is the main issue. With more composure the Portuguese might have four more points and be top of their section with the round of 16 beckoning. As it is, they sit third and require all three points in Lyon to progress.
Portugal have had an astonishing 50 shots at these finals, but just the one goal to show for it – Nani's in the 1-1 draw with Iceland. They have hit the woodwork – from open play and from a penalty – and have seen goalkeepers Hannes Halldórrson and Robert Almer become heroes at their expense. They can ill afford to offer Hungary's Gábor Király the same opportunity.
"In the next game we have to show our football, our attitude, and we need to score," said winger Nani, though on the evidence so far, that is easier said than done.
The statistics make unedifying reading for the Selecção. From 11 corners against Iceland and ten against Austria they are yet to create a clear-cut chance, deliveries too often finding the first man or clearing everyone. Ditto free-kicks.
Neither João Moutinho nor Ricardo Quaresma has delivered in this department, despite having Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, André Gomes, William Carvalho and the equally tall Cristiano Ronaldo to aim for.
Full-back Raphael Guerreiro gave a glimpse of his dead-ball quality when he crossed for Ronaldo to nod in against the Austrians – though the header was ruled offside – and Santos could do worse than put the left-footer on corner duty.
In the middle of the park there is an argument for bringing in Renato Sanches; after a breakthrough season at Benfica and €35m move to Bayern München, the 18-year-old was fast-tracked into the UEFA EURO 2016 squad.
With Moutinho more of a schemer and William Carvalho defensively minded, the teenager's youthful exuberance, pace, power and ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck could be exactly what Portugal need.
"The fans expect goals, expect victories," Nani noted. "We are the same. The important thing is to be confident. We can win the group in the next game."