European Qualifiers, Serbia 2-4 Portugal: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis

#2 Efficiency triumphs over extravagance for Portugal, again

Portugal have mastered the art of prioritising efficiency over extravagance

Back in 2016, Portugal seemed a team in turmoil. The Seleccao, after sacking Paulo Bento in 2014, were still searching for an identity under Fernando Santos and that lowered the nation’s expectations from Euro 2016 quite a bit.

Yet, the Portuguese managed to stun Europe as they tasted continental silverware for the first time that summer.

Their campaign started with a string of draws with the most notable one being the 3-3 stalemate with Hungary in the group stage. The Seleccao only made the 2nd round by the skin of their teeth and their defensive frailties meant that several pundits wrote them off.

However, since that game, the Portuguese have become the masters of keeping things tight at the back, nicking the odd goal up front and then seeing out the match.

And, those qualities shone through in Belgrade too.

Despite conjuring a painfully dreary first half, Portugal managed to take the lead through Carvalho.

The second half saw them invite the Serbians onto them before they hit them with the proverbial sucker punch.

Though Serbia halved the deficit a few minutes later, the visitors again edged forward after Ronaldo clinically finished past the keeper.

Thereafter, with the hosts frantically hunting for a leveller, the Portuguese stung them on the break as Bernardo rounded off the scoring.

For a majority of the game, Portugal played with the handbrake on and were content to sit back and let Serbia make the first move, akin to what they’ve done recently. The said approach paid dividends handsomely as they came away with a 4-2 win.

Yet, the manner of the victory didn’t seem too alien to those following the Seleccao over the past couple of years.

After all, they’ve learned to prioritise efficiency over extravagance: a methodology not many can claim to have mastered.

And while the current Portugal side might not get the spectators off their seats as much as some of their predecessors, they certainly know how to churn out positive results, irrespective of the circumstances.