Portugal’s thrilling, stomach-turning, come-from-behind victory against Czechia felt more like a loss for Roberto Martinez and Portugal. Sure, Portugal took home all three points against one of the tournament’s trickier teams. And yes, they did show incredible resolve to claw back from a one-goal deficit against a frustrating low block. They bombarded Czechia with several crosses, creating chance after chance, and they can count themselves unlucky to not score more than two on the night.
But, there were times when Portugal seemed confusing and unpredictable to themselves. Chaotic, even. There was a limited understanding of which role each player should play, especially with the hodge-podge starting lineup Martinez chose for the game. Natural wingback Nuno Mendes at center-back? Joao Cancelo drifting as far out as at left wing? The shape Martinez planned out for the game fell to virtual pieces during the game, and it seemed Portugal relied on their quality and technical superiority to scrape by, rather than their tactical intelligence and patience. Their dodgy showing invited many questions, and the win didn’t bring any answers.
“Today it’s not about assessing this game from the technical or tactical point of view,” Martinez told reporters after the match. “Today we won because we showed resilience, willpower, and belief. It’s the first time we’ve come from behind to win [under my tenure]. Today we believed, and we showed incredible personality.”
Although leadership and motivation from the Portugal squad helped ignite the flames of their comeback, Martinez and the Selecao face important questions about their tournament chances after such a worrying performance.
Martinez’s tactics look confusing
The Portugal starting eleven was shrouded in doubt entering their date with Czechia. Martinez used two distinctly different shapes with different personnel in their two pre-Euros friendlies. Even after Portugal announced their starting…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/uefa-euro/portugal-defeats-czechia-despite-martinezs-uninspired-tactics/
Author : Deolu Akingbade
Publish date : 2024-06-21 22:00:00
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