Why Underdog Status Will Help Portugal in Euro 2016 Clash with Croatia

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 24, 2016

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Eight have exited. Sixteen remain, but Portugal’s continued presence at Euro 2016 hasn’t got much to do with any intelligence they’ve displayed so far. It’s almost like they don’t know what they’re doing.

Three draws from three matches was enough to take them through, though, thanks primarily to the fact Turkey and Albania were only able to get the same amount of points from tougher groups with an inferior goal difference.



But they’re still fighting, and when Cristiano Ronaldo is around to pack some of your punches, then you are going to hit pretty hard. So it will be with great heart they travel to Lens to take on Croatia on Saturday, when one of the more exciting sides in the tournament faces on one of its biggest disappointments.

But will it be different for Portugal now they’ve entered the knockout stages? They historically tend to like them, reaching at least the semi-finals in three of the last four European Championships.

None of those sides are remembered as great European vintages or as potential champions that were cruelly denied. They were just well-organised, expressive outfits who would have the odd sprinkling of stardust. Crucially, they could see out a knockout game too, often helped by wily coaches who could sometimes use cynical means to get results.

Have these Portugal players got that in them? Bar Ronaldo’s occasional post-match outburst, they’ve almost been too nice at this tournament, playing football at arm’s length while fairly confused coach Fernando Santos struggles with his inner desire for containment football.



But in truth, they were almost forced to play that way in the group stage.

None of Iceland, Austria or Hungary were planning to open up the game and take on Portugal toe-to-toe, although in Hungary’s case, it just sort of happened because ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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