“Navigator” Portugal has not been absent from the 6th World Cup finals in this century. It can also be ranked among the top 10 favorites in each session, but that’s all. Stopped in the round of 16 twice. And C Lang Cristiano Ronaldo has not played since his debut in the European Championships in 2004. From the boy chasing the wind to the late stage of his football career at the age of 37, he failed to win the gold cup of the competition as he wished. Considering his age and state, Qatar will be one of them. last-ditch.
Portugal is the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean from southern Europe. Football also incorporates a variety of styles. It can be seen that Latin, Brazilian, Latin American, and traditional English styles are blended in one furnace. There is also a large number of talents, especially the wing players on both sides. However, the production of a large number of high-value wingers has also resulted in a lack of players in other positions. At the same time, although dribbling and dribbling are destructive and pleasing to the eye, they lack the final finisher in front of the goal and the organizational model and level in the middle.
Since the middle of his career, C Lang has gradually shifted to a forward or even a center forward, but it has not completely solved the problem, because the national team has never been like a club, there is no midfielder to supply and lose, and no one can open up space for him. After the 2014 World Cup, the former head coach Fernando Santos firmly implemented defensive counterattacks, first consolidating the defense line, and the main task of the engineer-type midfielder is to speed up the transition rhythm, transitioning the ball to C Lang or Bernardo Siliva, Zuo · João Félix, Diogo Jota and others were then given free rein to their talents. In addition, they attached great importance to dead ball tactics to bring scoring opportunities.
This practical style helped Navigator win the European Nations Cup in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in the 2018-19 season. After becoming a marginalized person, a vicious circle is formed, and it may be difficult to go to Qatar in the strongest state and bring new issues. Resolutely abandoning it may be a good option, but C Lang’s role in cohesiveness of the army and leadership ability of the captain is still difficult to replace.
Grouping cycle Portugal is in Group H with Uruguay, South Korea, and Ghana. It will be a tough battle, but the problem of qualifying should not be too big, but we must strive for the top of the list to avoid the top 16 and encounter Brazil, which is most likely to win the top of Group G. There is also pressure. Even if Voyager can win the knockout round for the first time in 16 years, the probability of entering the top 4 is not too high, and the top 8 is the qualifying standard.
Portugal
Number of World Cup appearances: 8
Best World Cup result: Third place (1966)
World Rank: 9
