Confederation captain Roberto Martínez’s national team is storming through European Championship qualifying group J. Six matches have yielded as many victories, 24 goals ahead and not a single behind.
After Monday’s 9-0 overrun against Luxembourg, according to AFP the biggest victory for a Portuguese men’s national team to date, the football European Championship in Germany next summer is getting closer.
With four games remaining, Portugal are five points behind second-placed Slovakia (who beat Liechtenstein 3-0 on Monday) and a further three behind third-placed Luxembourg. The top two teams in the group go to the EC.
The big win against Luxembourg came despite the absence of Portugal’s all-time top goalscorer. But on this particular night, the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo left no void behind him.
Instead, it was Bruno Fernandes who ruled and set the pitch. The Manchester United star scored the winning goal in the 1-0 win away to Slovakia on Friday and has now scored another while taking his tally to three.
Gonçalo Ramos, Diogo Jota and Gonçalo Inácio scored two goals each and Ricardo Horta and João Félix also took their place on the scoresheet.
In the same group, Iceland finally won another victory after three straight losses. But despite 1-0 against Bosnia-Herzegovina – Alfred Finnbogason decided in extra time – Åge Hareide’s team finds it difficult to reach the EC. Seven points go to Slovakia in second place.