Portugal had to wait to seal their qualification for the quarterfinals of the Nations League since Scotland held Cristiano Ronaldo to Hampden Park (0-0). Despite ending up on aggregate in Group 1 of League A, Roberto Martínez’s side are hopeful of qualifying.
Leader with 10 points and, with two days left, Portugal leads Poland by 6, which has now also tied in Warsaw against Croatia (3-3) and can still take back one of the two places that gives of access to the quarterfinals. Scotland, bottom with a score recorded tonight, don’t have any options left.
Roberto Martínez, whose wife Beth is Scottish, made six changes from Saturday’s 3-1 draw in Poland but the irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo, who was replaced in Warsaw, was one of those who repeated his starting paper included I mean Costa, Rüben Dias, Bruno Mendes and Bruno Fernandes.
Scotland was forgiving from the start
Too many developments affected Portugal first, at the mercy of a Scotland that came out of Hampden Park with determination, without any approach and touch. They could have gone ahead on the scoreboard in the 4th minute when the captain Andy Robertson found Scott McTominay alone in the area, but the Napoli midfielder could not adjust his header and Diego Costa He covered it effortlessly.
Portugal settled into the match and soon dominated the game thanks to the superior technical quality of its players. Cristiano Ronaldo, angry Every time he touched the ball, he had his first chance in the 8th minute with a cross shot that was saved Craig Gordon a goalkeeper who is unique He surpassed him by two years (41).
Christian, on the hunt for purpose
Scotland, more technically limited, played a physical game and tried to take advantage of long balls and strategic plays, such as a free kick denied by the defense, but the ball landed at the feet of Ryan Christie, whose early shot went into the hands of Diego Costa (20′).
Portugal never lost, while on the attack Cristiano Ronaldo continues his particular search for goal. After half an hour, he started a fantastic Chilean that he almost missed even though the referee whistled a foul, in response to his protests, for endangering the physical integrity of Billy Gilmour.
Before the break Diogo Jota found Cristianowho tried it from the edge of the big area with a slightly elevated shot.
CR7 and Conceiçao miss clear opportunities
Portugal came out after the break ready to seal their qualification. Cristiano missed a clear chance when he headed, alone, over the crossbar a cross from the baseline by Diogo Jota (48′).
Shortly after, the Portuguese star did not attempt the goal but instead played short to Francisco Conceiçao, which ended poorly when he is in a good position to score.
At game time Roberto Martínez introduced a triple change bringing in Bernardo Silva, Rúben Neves and Rafael Leao to bring freshness to his team.
Apart from some dangerous counterattacks, Scotland did not leave their area. Portugal needed a win to seal their defeat, as the score was 3-3 in Poland-Croatia, but they found themselves up against an opponent who fought tooth and nail.
Gordon let Bruno Fernandes down in the end
The Portuguese’s best chance came in the 88th minute. Leao, after a severe hospitalizationreturned from baseline to Bruno Fernandes that point-blank shot neutralized the veteran’s reflexes Gordon.
Cristiano Ronaldo left Hampden Park with an obvious gesture of protest and disapproval, a clear sign that he left without scoring and Portugal, for the first time with Roberto Martínez, a qualifying match after winning all 10 going into Euro 2024 and all three so far of the Nations League.
match lineup
1
2
3
23
6
5
11
8
10
4
17
1
20
19
6
4
3
23
8
7
14
21
Hampden Park
Diogo Costa1
88′
João Cancelo20
87′
Nuno Mendes19
João Palhinha6
49′
60′
Antonio Silva4
Ruben Dias3
82′
67′
Vitinha23
87′
Bruno Fernandes8
82′
Cristiano Ronaldo7
26′
Francisco Conceição14
60′
66′
Diogo Jota21
17′
60′
Replacements
Ricardo Velho12
Rui Silva22
Nelson Semedo2
87′
Diogo Dalot5
Bernard Silva10
60′
88′
Renato Veiga13
João Neves15
Otávio16
66′
Ruben Neves18
60′
67′
Trincão9
82′
João Felix11
87′
Rafael Leao17
60′
coach
Steve Clarke
Robert Martinez
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
