Portugal moved a step closer to securing a spot in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Scotland on Tuesday. The match at Hampden Park saw the first points dropped by Roberto Martinez’s men in their four games, yet they remain atop Group A1 with 10 points.
The Portuguese side stays three points ahead of Croatia, who drew 3-3 in a thrilling encounter with Poland. Scotland, with just one point, sits at the bottom of the group, while Poland holds third place with four points. The top two teams from the group will advance to the last eight, keeping Portugal in a favorable position.
Portugal’s head coach, Roberto Martinez, reflected on the team’s performance, stating they were missing “a bit of magic in the area.”
“We had a lot of desire; we worked very well without the ball,” Martinez told Sport TV. “It was a dangerous game because we could have had possession, but Scotland needed very little to score a goal. We showed freshness, but we lacked freshness in the final third.”
Portugal dominated much of the match but failed to capitalize on several opportunities. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had scored in their previous three games, missed a clear chance early in the second half. Unmarked in the box, the veteran forward sent a diving header over the bar, much to the relief of the Scottish fans.
Ronaldo, 39, also attempted a bicycle kick that went wide, earning an ironic cheer from Scotland’s “Tartan Army.”
When questioned about the team’s strategy, Martinez dismissed concerns over a lack of a Plan B. “Our talent, our players, is Plan A, B, C, D, E,” he said. “We have players on the inside, on the outside. We’re talking about a team that didn’t take risks, that defended very well. We’re talking about a team that got into the final third 53 times. We have to give credit to Scotland and to ourselves for managing to keep a clean sheet.”
Scotland had their moments as well. Just five minutes into the game, Scott McTominay narrowly missed with a header after a pinpoint cross from captain Andy Robertson. Despite some promising attacks, the hosts were hindered by careless turnovers throughout the match.
In the closing minutes, Scotland’s goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, made several crucial saves to deny Portugal the winning goal, ensuring his side held on for a valuable point.
Reference(s):
Portugal close in on Nations League quarterfinals with Scotland draw
cgtn.com
