On July 2nd, in the round of 16 of the European Championship, Portugal narrowly defeated Slovenia. After the match, the official website of Goal.com rated the Portuguese players and coach.
Costa: 9
Costa neutralized all the threats from Slovakia, and he was divine in the penalty shootout.
Cancello: 7.5
Cancello was even more threatening than Bernardo Silva going forward, but his defensive abilities could be improved.
Rúben Dias: 7
Dias showcased excellent aerial defense and made a crucial block. His passing choices in attack were impressive.
Pépe: 4
Pépe had an average game, with slow recovery speed and a costly error that led to a one-on-one for the opponent. He should have been substituted earlier.
Mendes: 7
He had good chemistry with Leão on the left flank and performed well in defensive tasks.
Vitinha: 7
He maintained possession well and executed great dribbles, making it difficult for Slovakia to win the ball from him.
Palhinha: 7.5
In just the first half, he made seven interceptions and won numerous duels. Palhinha also nearly scored with a header.
Bernardo Silva: 6
He provided accurate crosses from the right and created space for Cancello with his inward runs. He scored a crucial penalty.
Bruno Fernandes: 5.5
The victim of tactical sacrifice, playing in a deeper role than a typical number 10. He created the most chances but also lost the ball frequently. He converted his penalty without mistake.
Leão: 7
We saw the complete version of Leão, with exceptional dribbling skills that constantly troubled the opposition’s defense.
Ronaldo: 3
Ronaldo’s shots became increasingly comical and less effective. His high emotions affected his decision-making. He squandered a free-kick opportunity on the left side. Despite this, he showed courage in the penalty shootout, scoring the first goal before missing his second, leaving him in tears.
Martinez (Coach): 3
With a star-studded squad, Martinez failed to utilize his resources effectively, which was disappointing. With Ronaldo’s fatigue rendering him unable to lead the attack, the manager’s reluctance to substitute him was baffling.
Martinez has turned Portugal into a one-man team revolving around Ronaldo. Perhaps starting him on the bench against France would be more suitable, considering his evident exhaustion and inability to provide pressing as the first line of defense.
In midfield, Bruno Fernandes should operate closer to the box to maximize his creativity, with Palhinha supporting him defensively and filling gaps.
Defensively, Pépe can start but should be substituted earlier. The choice between Dalot and Cancelo is also worth reconsidering, given Cancelo’s low success rate in one-on-one situations, which might not be enough to contain Mbappe’s explosive runs.