Portugal’s Win Over Czechia Raises Concerns Despite Victory

As the last game of the first round of EURO 2024, Portugal faced Czechia with one mission in mind: win and move forward.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s team boasts one of the most talented squads of the tournament, but as often reminded, superior individual talent alone doesn’t always secure the three points. 

Alongside England and France, this was by far one of the most underwhelming performances from the favourites. A victory, but a clear warning that things must change. Quickly.

The Problem With Roberto Martinez

Fernando Santos is no longer at the helm. Despite winning EURO 2016 with Portugal and bringing the best out of a young Renato Sanches, he was often criticized for his team’s underwhelming performances. 

In hopes of finding new magic, Portugal switched coaches, hiring Roberto Martinez. Unfortunately, the change did not bring the expected results. 

Martinez, known for his one-dimensional approach, stuck with his 3-4-3 system – a formation many argue does not suit the team’s strengths. Bernardo Silva was placed on the right wing, with the dynamic Rafael Leão on the left and Cristiano Ronaldo leading the attack in the center.

Portugal Plays Too Slow

Rarely has football seen so much quality reduced to immobility and inaction. Portugal played slowly, appeared disinterested, and struggled to break down Czechia’s block. This is especially concerning as the Portuguese will face a stronger side in Turkey, known for their solid defensive setup. This type of slow play, and risk-aversion that Portugal showed cannot be repeated if Portugal dreams of lifting the trophy.

On paper, this performance is inexcusable. With players like Diogo Dalot, João Cancelo, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes, much more was expected. However, they did not deliver.

Many questions arise about Martinez’s tactics. Why did Bernardo Silva, theoretically the creative heart of the team, seem so disconnected from the play? Not much can be said about Leão, who continued to force defenders to guard him – if anything, he is the only forward from who I can recall anything meaningful from yesterday.

Martinez should consider retaining the midfield pair of Vitinha (arguably the best performer of the night) and Bruno Fernandes, but beyond that, much of the performance can be forgotten. 

The Aftermath for Czechia

For Czechia, this was as good as it was going to get. They shot themselves in the foot – and they know it. Czechia had some nice spells of possession without ever being truly impressive.

They are the classical underwhelming team, lacking the tools to compete at the highest level but not easy to tear apart either. They placed their defensive block and waited, almost succeeding in their approach. While Portugal was risk-averse, Czechia stood firm and refused to budge until their opponent forced them to.

Hope can be a cruel teacher, and Czechia learned it the hard way. Provod opened the score in the 62nd, but the Bohemians will bite themselves for allowing an own goal only a few minutes later. This could be labelled as “luck” for Portugal, but in reality, it was more about Czechia’s misfortune.

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Ronaldo Was Nowhere To Be Seen

Cristiano Ronaldo is still the main star in this Portugal squad. Despite having younger stars who could take his place, he is still entrusted with leading the attack. 

Five shots, no goals – a disappointing performance for Ronaldo: This is far from the start the Portuguese star hoped for. He will be frustrated with himself for not delivering when his team needed him the most. 

Instead, it was 21-year-old Francisco Conceição who rose to the occasion, securing the three points with a winner in the dying minutes of the game, making it 2-1.

Conceição brought the spirit that the team desperately needed. Portugal does not lack talent—it has plenty of skilled players. What Roberto Martinez’s team lacked were young, hungry players willing to fight against the odds and give everything on the pitch. 

Indeed, it does remind me of the rise of young Renato Sanches in 2016 – another player who, not named Ronaldo, stepped up to secure glory for the country. 

What’s next for Czechia?

For Czechia, the future looks bleak, but not everything should be discarded. They proved to be solid off the ball, which is a crucial starting point. 

In the other encounter, Turkey defeated Georgia 3-1. Czechia still has a chance to progress, depending on their performance against Turkey, arguably the most critical match. 

It’s not as if Czechia lacks talent  – with players like Provod, Staněk, Coufal, and Holeš, there is a foundation to build on. However,they need to be more proactive.

A good example to emulate would be their neighbor Slovakia, who managed to secure a win against Belgium. By adopting a more dynamic approach, Czechia can still turn their campaign around.