Soporific Portugal make no apologies
PARIS: Portugal continue to be a paradox at Euro 2016, reaching the semi-finals without ever giving the kind of uplifting performance that their talented team is capable of.
Coach Fernando Santos was naturally delighted after his side overcame Poland on penalties in the quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw, yet, as far as the neutrals were concerned, it was another soporific display.
Portugal’s progress to the semi-finals, without winning a match inside 90 minutes, has drawn parallels with the Paraguay team who managed to reach the 2011 Copa America final by drawing every game.
The difference is that Portugal at least managed to beat Croatia 1-0 after extra time in the second round, whereas Paraguay won both their knockout games at the Copa in penalty shoot-outs before losing 3-0 in the final against Uruguay.
In some ways it seems harsh to criticise a Portugal team whose recent record at the European championship puts many bigger countries to shame. The Portuguese have reached the quarter-finals on all seven occasions that they have taken part, and in the past five tournaments have reached the final once and the semifinals three times.
But there has been something strangely unsatisfying, even exasperating, about their performances at Euro 2016.
Their style of play is not especially defensive, they do not commit more fouls than anyone else and their average of 19 goal attempts a game is the fourth highest at the tournament.
On the other hand, their second-round tie against Croatia was dire, and the second hour of the match against Poland lulled Marseilles’s Stade Velodrome into near silence.
It has been pretty much the same story since the amiable Santos took over in September 2014, having led Greece to the last 16 at the World Cup.
Portugal are unbeaten in 12 competitive matches under him but their nine wins have all been by single-goal margins.
“We are a team with great character. I continue to say I’m only going home on 11 July,” said Santos, who has insisted since the start that Portugal will reach the final next Sunday. – Reuters