Portugal (National Football)

Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday.  

In a match of few clear chances, the Portuguese were the more creative in attack, and it was Goncalo Guedes who fired the only goal of the game on the hour mark.

The Dutch failed to deliver a predatory threat in the box and, after a promising start, fell away from the challenge at hand.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a quiet game, but his team played with the consistency needed to win the inaugural prize.

                      

Bernardo Silva Is the Best Midfielder in Europe

In a match that contained a wealth of current and future stars, one man stood out in a disciplined contest in Porto.

All eyes were on Ronaldo after his hat-trick against Switzerland in the semi-final, and the performances of Dutch pair Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt had pundits deep in analysis.

However, it was Manchester City midfielder Silva who danced through the centre and impressed.

Dominic King of the Daily Mail noted the player's achievement in the Nations League:

Bernardo Silva just named Player of the Tournament and quite right, too. He's been absolutely magnificent all season and the way he created Portugal's winner was him to a tee. Top notch.
Frenkie De Jong, meanwhile, was Young Player of the Tournament.

— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) June 9, 2019

Silva started the match wide of Ronaldo, but his astonishing work rate took him across the pitch.

Bruno Fernandes sat in the pocket and interchanged with his team-mate, allowing Silva to keep Portugal on the front foot.

The Netherlands' passing style was evident in the first half, but their opponents had more intent and experience in the vital moments.

Portugal's ability to interchange positions allowed them to extinguish any potential heat out in the game, and Silva showed why City fans have taken him to their heart.

The 24-year-old is small in stature, but like Luka Modric, his influence is huge in midfield.

Miguel Delaney of the Independent hailed the diminutive superstar:

Bernardo Silva is now "up there". Must be among top 20 players in world or so. Becoming as important to Portugal as Ronaldo.

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 9, 2019

The reigning European champions will be looking for a player to lead them when Ronaldo finally calls it a day at the international level, and in Silva, the nation already has a natural-born winner.

Silva gave the assist for Guedes to score his goal, expertly sliding the ball back into his path to rifle home his effort.

It was the perfect example of what Silva has become since joining Pep Guardiola's squad from Monaco in 2017.

Guardiola has helped mould the player into one of the most productive midfielders in Europe, and he could soon be considered as the best in the world.

                                                                                       

What's Next

The Netherlands face Germany in 2020 UEFA European Championship qualifying September 6, with Portugal travelling to Serbia in group qualification on September 7.

Portugal manager Fernando Santos lauded Cristiano Ronaldo as a "genius" after he fired in a hat-trick to help the European champions beat Switzerland 3-1 on Wednesday in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals. 

Ronaldo opened the scoring midway through the first half and bagged two late goals after Ricardo Rodriguez had pulled the Swiss level with a second-half penalty.

Per the Press Association (h/t MailOnline), Santos said:

"In terms of adjectives to describe Ronaldo's game—I have used many.

"I was his coach in 2003, and I could see where he would go. He is a genius. There is genius paintings and sculptures, and he is a football genius.

"When someone scores three goals, they are the difference-maker."

Ronaldo—who did not feature at all for Portugal in the group stage of the Nations League—made his first impact in the competition with a 25th-minute free-kick.

The Swiss equalised 11 minutes into the second half. Referee Felix Brych had initially awarded a spot-kick to Portugal after Bernardo Silva went down, but a VAR consultation resulted in him giving a penalty to Switzerland for a foul on Steven Zuber moments earlier.

A pair of clinical finishes from Ronaldo decided the game in the hosts' favour at the Estadio do Dragao:

As football writer Graham Ruthven observed, it was a typical performance from the Juventus forward, who had a quiet game before making the decisive contribution:

https://twitter.com/grahamruthven/status/1136370775714357248

Sky Sports Statto put his hat-trick in context:

⚽️ @Cristiano scores the 53rd hat-trick of his career for club & country

🇵🇹 All of his 7 hat-tricks for Portugal have been in competitive matches

🔟 Scored in 10 out of 10 tournaments in his international career#PORSWI @UEFAEURO pic.twitter.com/iqTFhEfSR4

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) June 5, 2019

The goals took him to 88 for his country in 157 appearances.

Football writer Colin Millar believes he will be targeting Ali Daei's record:

Cristiano Ronaldo up to 88 international goals. 28 goals in his last 26 caps. Only Ali Daei (109, for Iran) has more. Don't be surprised if that record is the next for Ronaldo.

— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) June 5, 2019

Ronaldo's Portugal will take on either England or Netherlands at the same stadium on Sunday.

The Three Lions have built on reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, while the Oranje are enjoying a resurgence thanks to a new generation of talent, with the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt slotting in alongside more experienced stars such as Virgil van Dijk.

However, with Ronaldo in their side and on home soil, Portugal will fancy their chances against either opponent.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to help Portugal reach the final of the 2019 UEFA Nations League after a 3-1 win over Switzerland at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday.

Ronaldo opened the scoring from a free-kick, before adding two more goals late on to render a Ricardo Rodriguez penalty moot and see the hosts through.

Portugal now await the winner of Thursday's semi-final between the Netherlands and England.

RONALDO HAT-TRICK

(via @UnivisionSports)pic.twitter.com/71lxNcIf5r

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 5, 2019

   

Joao Felix Not Ready for Big-Money PL Move

A first senior international cap provided an onlookers the ideal opportunity to find out why Manchester City are reportedly prepared to pay £106 million for Benfica forward Joao Felix.

🇵🇹 João Félix is the youngest Portugal debutant since Renato Sanches in 2016 (19 years, 207 days) 🧒#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/yG9mEZk7PE

— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 5, 2019

The gaudy amount is the 19-year-old's release clause, a fee City are ready meet after seeing an offer worth £90 million rebuffed, according to CM Jornal (h/t TalkSport's Josh Fordham).

City fans can be forgiven for wondering why based on Felix's indifferent display. Joining City playmaker Bernardo Silva to partner Ronaldo in attack gave the teenager every chance to showcase his skills.

What followed instead was a performance defined more by hesitation than inspiration. Felix made some intelligent runs off the ball, but too often his first touch let him down, while he rarely found his range when trying to tee up teammates.

It meant a first half of anonymity for European football's latest anointed wonderkid:

Only 11 touches at half-time against Switzerland, but there have been a few examples of his innate movement and excellent spatial awareness.

Félix is the type to be generally ineffectual, then appear to make a difference at a decisive moment.

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) June 5, 2019

So there was no surprise when head coach Fernando Santos hooked Felix just before the 70th minute.

Felix looked slightly awed by the occasion and his exalted company. The feeling is perhaps understandable given it's his first time at this level, along with the pressure of trying to match the exalted standards Ronaldo has set.

Even so, it's not unreasonable to expect more from a player expected to command a nine-figure transfer fee this summer. Kylian Mbappe did the same thing as a teenage prodigy for Monaco and France, and the striker was further along when he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 and helped Les Bleus win the FIFA World Cup a year later.

Felix has produced commendable numbers in Benfica's talented ranks this season:

Joao Felix: Last 8 Benfica apps

🆚 Eintracht Frankfurt ⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️⭐️
🆚 Vitoria de Setubal ⚽️🅰️🅰️
🆚 Eintracht Frankfurt ❌
🆚 Maritimo ⚽️⚽️🅰️
🆚 Braga ❌
🆚 Portimonense ❌
🆚 Rio Ave ⚽️
🆚 Santa Clara ⚽️

For more player stats -- https://t.co/Bu8FRGZrBu pic.twitter.com/hprJhuwtC6

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) May 30, 2019

However, if he moves to City, he will be competing with established stars such as Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane for minutes out wide. Forcing his way ahead in the pecking order will take more skill and swagger than Felix showed here.

He may be ready for the Premier League someday, but Felix is not there yet.

       

What's Next?

Switzerland will face either the Netherlands or England in Sunday's third-place playoff, before Portugal contest the final later the same day.

Portugal national team manager Fernando Santos has said Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo will "certainly" be selected for the UEFA Nations League finals, despite not playing in the group stage.

Per Sport TV (h/t BBC Sport), Santos said he understands why the 34-year-old took some time off after the 2018 FIFA World Cup, before returning for the Euro 2020 qualifiers in March:

"He has a constant appreciation and passion for his country. His absence in the qualifying stages was very well explained and was a totally legitimate and understandable decision. He explained us well. We understood that the best way was that he would not be with us in that period."

Ronaldo was absent for his country's four group games, of which the team won two and drew two against Poland and Italy to finish top of Group 3 by three points. He was rested for the 1-0 win over Italy in September, before missing the final three games in the wake of American woman Kathryn Mayorga telling German magazine Der Spiegel that the forward had raped her in 2009 in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Vegas police reopened an investigation into Mayorga's allegation at her request, though Ronaldo has publicly denied the allegations.

Portugal will host the finals, taking on Switzerland in the semi-finals on June 5. If they win, they'll face the winner of the match between England and the Netherlands on June 9.

Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time top scorer with 85 goals and has been among the most productive forwards in the sport over the last decade. Only Iran's Ali Daei has scored more international goals over the course of his career, per FourFourTwo.

He hasn't found the net for his country since the World Cup, though, after returning for Portugal's first two Euro 2020 qualifiers in March. The defending champions played out a scoreless draw against Ukraine and a 1-1 draw with Serbia.

Things have gone far better for Ronaldo at club level in the 2018-19 season. In his first campaign with Juventus, he has scored 21 Serie A goals, just four fewer than the league's top scorer, Sampdoria's Fabio Quagliarella.

His most recent strike came in the Derby della Mole, a 1-1 draw against Torino:

Ronaldo's highlight of the season came in March, when he fired Juventus past Atletico Madrid by scoring a hat-trick to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the return leg of their UEFA Champions League tie:

The Champions League campaign eventually ended in disappointment, however, as Juventus were knocked out by Ajax in the quarter-finals. The former Manchester United star had won the three previous editions of the tournament with Real Madrid.

The inaugural Nations League finals will provide Ronaldo with an opportunity to win his third trophy of the season, after the Supercoppa and Serie A triumphs.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been called into the Portugal squad for the first time since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia:

Estes são os convocados para o início da defesa do título! #TodosPortugal

Vem ver os craques ao vivo!
🇵🇹 x 🇺🇦 ⚽️ 🇵🇹 x 🇷🇸
📅 22/03 e 25/03
🎟️ https://t.co/1jjMCgX7lD e https://t.co/kKNjZv8A8A
🏟️ Estádio da Luz pic.twitter.com/eQ3GgGw6OJ

— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) March 15, 2019

Fernando Santos' side play two 2020 UEFA European Championship qualifiers in Lisbon in March. The defending champions take on Ukraine on March 22 and then play Serbia three days later. 

Ronaldo asked to be left out of Portugal's games in September 2018, as he wanted time to adapt to his move from Real Madrid to Juventus, per Reuters.

The forward was also left out of the Portugal squad in October and November for games against Poland, Scotland and Italy, although no official reason was given for his absence.

Portugal fared well without their talisman. They are unbeaten in six games, winning three and qualifying for the finals of the UEFA Nations League.

However, they will be boosted by the return of Ronaldo, who is enjoying an impressive first season in Serie A.

Juventus are on course to retain their league title, with Ronaldo having contributed 19 goals and eight assists in 26 games.

He has also proven his worth in the UEFA Champions League. Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick in the last 16 to inspire Juve to a 3-2 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid, after losing the first leg 2-0.

The goals maintained his excellent strike rate in Europe's top competitions:

🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo's #UCL record:

⚽️6⃣1⃣ GROUP STAGE
⚽️6⃣3⃣ KNOCKOUT ROUNDS

⚪️ BIG-GAME PLAYER ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/ubF6pWmoen

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 14, 2019

Ronaldo said after the win over Atletico that his Champions League record is why Juventus wanted to sign him, per Sky Sports.

"This was why Juventus brought me here, to help do things that they have never done before. This is the mentality you need to win in the Champions League. I just do my work and I'm very happy tonight, it was a magical night. Atletico are always difficult to face, but we are also strong and we proved it."

Ronaldo has already achieved success at international level with Portugal after helping them win Euro 2016. He's also his country's all-time record goalscorer and has over 150 caps for the national team.

Portugal edged past Poland 3-2 on the road in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, as the visitors claimed victory without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Krzysztof Piatek gave the hosts the perfect start with a finish after 18 minutes, but the Portuguese contingent turned the screw to wrestle control.

Andre Silva found the back of the net for the equaliser after 31 minutes, and Kamil Glik's own goal made it 2-1 to Portugal before half-time.

Manchester City star Bernardo Silva had the away fans on their feet with a goal after 52 minutes, but the Poles fought back in the closing stages.

With 13 minutes remaining, Jakub Blaszczykowski made it 3-2 after sustained possession and pressure from the hosts.

           

Ruben Neves Must Leave Wolverhampton Wanderers To Become A Superstar

Neves has been one of the surprise packages in the Premier League this term, but fans of Wolves know all about the midfielder.

A player who can sit deep but still dictate the traffic ahead of him, Neves has a little bit of everything needed from a modern midfielder.

The player produced one of the moments of the match for Portugal's second goal, providing a sumptuous long pass for Rafa, who saw his chance slid over the goal line by Poland's Glik.

Sky Sports Football highlighted Neves's vision via Twitter:

How's your touch, Rafa? 💥

He gets on the end of Ruben Neves' pinpoint pass to round the 'keeper, only for Glik to knock it into his own net! ⚽

Watch Poland v Portugal live on Sky Sports Football Red Button or watch in-game clips and highlights here: https://t.co/orKC8PgnPR pic.twitter.com/PrYJNqsn79

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 11, 2018

Despite missing the world-class talents of Ronaldo, Portugal have a midfield that's the envy of the world, and Neves only has to look across the park to team-mate Bernardo Silva to see what he could soon be achieving.

Wolves have been excellent value in the opening weeks of the season, and Neves' midfield partnership with countryman Joao Moutinho has been one of the best in England.

However, for Neves to make the next level, he will need to find his way to a much bigger club than the Molineux Stadium outfit.

Neves is already at the level of a player who should be a part of Engand's top-four, and he has the ability to return to the continent with a major team.

The future looks bright for Portugal as they consider their options, with Ronaldo entering the twilight of his career.

Joining Neves on the cusp of greatness is Andre Silva. The young striker is showing great signs of maturity, and he has proved to be deadly for club and country.

The 22-year-old has been a revelation in La Liga since joining Sevilla on loan from AC Milan, scoring seven goals in just eight appearances in the Spanish top-flight.

Much like Neves, Andre Silva could soon find himself treading the boards at one of the biggest teams in Europe if his form continues.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Portugal's squad for the impending international break after holding talks with manager Fernando Santos, per CNN.com.

According to Portuguese newspaper Record (h/t ESPN's Adriana Garcia), the pair have agreed with Portuguese federation president Fernando Gomes that Ronaldo will not feature in the games against Poland and Scotland or "through November," so he may not appear for his national team again this year.

On Monday, it was announced that a 2009 investigation into a rape allegation made against Ronaldo was reopened by Las Vegas Police, although Garcia reported it is unclear if his absence from the Portugal team is related. Ronaldo also skipped international duty in September.

On Saturday, German magazine Der Spiegel named 34-year-old Kathryn Mayorga as Ronaldo's accuser. Mayorga initially agreed a $375,000 settlement with Ronaldo to stop the allegations from going public, but she has now filed a lawsuit against Ronaldo and asked for the investigation to be reopened after seeking new legal advice.

Mayorga told police in 2009 that a man had raped her at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. At the time, Ronaldo was not named, but a Der Spiegel investigation published in April 2017 reported he had been accused of rape by an American woman in Las Vegas in 2009.

The 33-year-old denied the allegations in a pair of Twitter posts on Wednesday:

I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense.

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 3, 2018

My clear conscious will thereby allow me to await with tranquillity the results of any and all investigations.

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 3, 2018

It has also been confirmed Lionel Messi will not return to action for Argentina this month having also been left out of the squad in September, so Ronaldo is not the only major star to miss consecutive international breaks following the FIFA World Cup.

In a press conference, Santos made clear the 33-year-old still has a future with Portugal: "In the future, nothing will prevent Ronaldo from contributing to the team."

Despite his absence, Portugal beat Italy 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League last month and also drew 1-1 with World Cup finalists Croatia in a friendly.

Here's a look at the fixtures he's set to miss out on in the coming weeks:

Fernando Santos confirms that Cristiano Ronaldo will not play for Portugal until at least March 2019.

Full story: https://t.co/jsE8PxrAi0 pic.twitter.com/CXiLv0vrin

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 4, 2018

Portuguese football writer Jan Hagen shared a look at the squad Santos has named for the first two matches:

Official: Portugal's squad to face Poland(Oct. 11th) and Scotland(Oct. 14th):

Rúben Neves and Renato Sanches keep their places, Euro 2016 hero Éder returns, while Wolves' Hélder Costa gets his first ever Portugal call-up. As expected, no Cristiano Ronaldo. pic.twitter.com/lCB929hDWS

— Jan Freðrik Hagen (@JanFHagen) October 4, 2018

Ronaldo is Portugal's most-capped player and top scorer, having netted 85 times in 154 appearances.

He left Real Madrid for Juventus over the summer and has scored three goals and assisted five in eight appearances for the Bianconeri.

Portugal grabbed their first win of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, beating Morocco 1-0 in Group B.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring after just four minutes, powering home a free header inside the box.

The Portuguese drew 3-3 with Spain in their opening match, while Morocco lost 1-0 to Iran. La Roja and Iran will meet later on Wednesday.  

Here are the main takeaways from the match.

   

Ronaldo's Scorching Form Spells Trouble For Other World Cup Contenders

Portugal aren't nearly as deep or versatile as they were two years ago, when their overpowering midfield was a huge factor in their run to the UEFA Euro 2016 title.

For the second match in a row, a lacklustre showing from the rest of the team was completely overshadowed by Ronaldo's scoring prowess, as he bagged his fourth goal of the tournament. That puts him in pole position for the Golden Boot.

Fans and pundits were in awe:

Cristiano Ronaldo vs his opponents. #por #worldcup pic.twitter.com/PEbxSVdgQ3

— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) June 20, 2018

When the 33-year-old is playing like this, he's nearly impossible to stop, and while it might not be enough to lead Portugal to the ultimate glory, it should scare future opponents.

There's not a defence in this world that can contain Ronaldo for 90 minutes when he's on his game. He's barely missed any chances through two matches, and that's an ill omen for the rest of the field.

   

Morocco Provide Blueprint on How to Beat Portugal

Portugal may have grabbed a much-needed first win of the tournament, but Morocco were arguably the more impressive side, and the Atlas Lions may have just provided the rest of the teams with a blueprint on how to beat the European champions.

The African side went after Portugal's full-backs early and often, and both Raphael Guerreiro and Cedric Soares couldn't deal with the relentless pressure. Their midfielders were unable to help out, and centre-backs Pepe and Jose Fonte lack the pace to provide support—they wisely stayed in the box and left Guerreiro and Soares on an island.

The former in particular had no answers:

Pretty much ready to nominate this performance from Guerreiro as worst of the #WorldCup

— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) June 20, 2018

A team with more efficient wingers or strikers than Morocco's will punish the many openings Portugal leave near the back line and will overload the wings early and often. Future opponents will be licking their lips when they watch the game film of this match.

        

Future Looks Bright for Talented Atlas Lions

Morocco may not have lived up to some of the hype they carried entering the tournament—they did not concede a goal in their final qualifying group, after all—but they can still walk away from their second match with their heads held high.

The Atlas Lions may not have earned a point or scored a goal yet, but they've made plenty of new fans with their exciting style:

Morocco are gonna be the best-ever team to get 0 points aren't they?

— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) June 20, 2018

It's worth remembering this team hadn't qualified for a World Cup since 1998; their lack of experience at this stage showed, and the 2018 World Cup should serve as a learning experience for the side.

With the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech and Amine Harit all yet to hit their prime, the future looks bright for the Lions, who have one more chance to prove themselves against Spain.

   

What's Next?

Both teams will feature again on Monday, when Portugal take on Iran and Morocco face Spain.

Portugal ended their 2018 FIFA World Cup preparations with a 3-0 win over Algeria on Thursday as Cristiano Ronaldo made a victorious return to the national team lineup in their final warm-up fixture.

Goncalo Guedes netted a brace for Fernando Santos' side along with a first-half header from Bruno Fernandes, while substitute Joao Mario had an 85th-minute goal disallowed for a hand-ball.

Real Madrid's European commitments meant Ronaldo missed Portugal's last two friendlies, but his return proved timely as they get ready to open their World Cup Group B campaign against Spain on Friday, June 15.

         

Ronaldo Rounding into Champion Form as World Cup Inches Closer 

No sooner had Ronaldo returned to the Portugal starting XI than their morale and, by extension, their form on the pitch began to show almost instant improvement.

The Selecao captain wasn't involved in Guedes' opener, set up by Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, but he did supply the cross that laid it on a plate for Sporting Lisbon attacker Fernandes to net his maiden international goal.

Perhaps the biggest positive for Santos & Co. to take from Thursday's win is how well their formation worked without a recognised frontman, as noted by broadcaster Matteo Bonetti:

https://twitter.com/TheCalcioGuy/status/1004817191806603271

The new set-up allowed Silva, Fernandes and mainly Guedes to benefit, while left-back Raphael Guerreiro also looked to offer his usual contribution in attack and William Carvalho showed extra verve moving forward.

AC Milan's out-of-form forward Andre Silva was benched by Santos, and unfortunately for him, the fluidity that Ronaldo, Fernandes and Guedes enjoyed in attack appeared to work wonders, per blogger Alex Goncalves:

Gonçalo Guedes given a great account of himself yet again today; every chance he'll start in Russia ahead of Andre Silva.

The attacking depth Portugal have is truly exciting & really starting to come together. Ronaldo, Guedes, Andre Silva, Quaresma, Bernardo, Gelson, Bruno F. 🔥

— Alex Gonçalves (@Aljeeves) June 7, 2018

But Ronaldo was a major factor behind that. Algeria undoubtedly paid extra attention to the Real hitman and perhaps focused too intently on his return, relieving Portugal's other attackers of some pressure.

However, writer Tom Kundert did critique one example of Portugal's stars still attempting to force the issue with Ronaldo when other options were apparent:

Portugal break seems certain to lead to goal, but Seleção guilty of over-elaborating. Bruno Fernandes clean through but he tries a fancy back-heel to Ronaldo that goes wrong. Don't got there Portugal players. Those days are gone. You're too good to bow to CR7.

— Tom Kundert (@PortuGoal1) June 7, 2018

While Ronaldo's return after his fifth UEFA Champions League title is great news, it's essential Portugal look to him as an extra tool in the grand scheme and not the sole end product.

          

Portugal Show Signs of Improvement, but Hard to Get Excited Yet

Without attempting to rain on Portugal's parade, it's crucial the European champions don't allow their egos to be inflated by such a confident win over Algeria, who are 66th in the FIFA rankings—a full 62 places below them.

This is a team that lost their previous three matches coming to the Estadio da Luz, and blogger Walid Bylka rightfully asked questions of manager Rabah Madjer after he was slow to respond tactically Thursday:

Less than 25 minutes to go, still 3-0 for Portugal, time to make some changes Madjer. Bounedjah, Belkhiter, heck even Lakroum .. how long are we going to see the same players play game in and game out and do nothing? pic.twitter.com/zs3YNnWvYR

— Walid Ziani (@bylka613_) June 7, 2018

The Fennec Foxes managed to find the target just twice, per Flashscore.com, and Portugal really could have used a greater test ahead of their trip to Russia, which could leave them with a false sense of security.

Portugal's next opponents, 2010 World Cup winners Spain, will be a different beast altogether, and DZ Football illustrated just how far off the pace Thursday's victims were at times:

68’: Forget trying to score, Algeria would be happy just to get the ball back in this game.

🇵🇹 3-0 🇩🇿 #PORALG

— Dean Ammi (@AlgerianFooty) June 7, 2018

The Selecao had drawn games against Belgium and Tunisia prior to their clash with Algeria, so perhaps a morale booster was precisely what was needed in some ways.

European champions or not, some may struggle to agree with former Portugal superstar Deco, who recently said his old side are among the favourites in Russia, via Goal:

Deco has no doubt about it - Portugal are one of the favourites to win the World Cup 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/nLMVu3KHrr

— GOAL News (@GoalNews) June 7, 2018

An actual World Cup contender might have scored twice the amount of goals against Algeria that Portugal did Thursday, with only seven of their 18 shots finding the target.

Against a team that's failed to keep a clean sheet in four outings this year, Thursday's victory was a bit too lackadaisical, and Portugal's performance indicated they're not yet the polished product.

        

What's Next?

That's a wrap on the World Cup warm-ups for Portugal, who now have a week's respite before they face Spain in their World Cup opener on June 15. Algeria have no World Cup to look forward to, meanwhile, and they're not back in action until their 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia in September.

European champions Portugal, without Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, were unable to grab the win in an international friendly against Tunisia on Monday. The future World Cup opponents of England and Belgium earned an impressive 2-2 draw.

Adrien Silva and Joao Mario gave the Portuguese a two-goal lead, but Tunisia hit back through Anice Badri and Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, shocking the European giants.

Here are the key takeaways from this friendly.

   

Portugal's Depth a Worry ahead of World Cup

This is not the same Portugal side that won the European championship two years ago. There's no Renato Sanches running the show in midfield, Nani isn't in the squad to provide an attacking spark, Andre Gomes and Ruben Neves both aren't there to anchor things, and Eder, who scored the winner against France in the final in 2016, is also out.

With Ronaldo rested on Monday, Silva and Ricardo Quaresma were tasked with creating things in the attacking third, and both had good outings. But further back, Mario had his hands too full too often, and some of the back-ups did not impress against a limited Tunisia side.

As noted by Portuguese football expert Jan Hagen, things were far from perfect:

HT Portugal 2-1 Tunisia. Interesting half from The Quarry. Portugal have looked good going forward and their technical abilities are far superior to their opponent's. Yet there's still plenty of work to be done in defense. pic.twitter.com/0NRFLbFKgr

— Jan Freðrik Hagen (@JanFHagen) May 28, 2018

Portugal's depth was a huge reason for their success in France two years ago, and the squad set to take part in the World Cup has fewer options. That doesn't mean their campaign is doomed from the start―any team that has Ronaldo will have a chance―but the European champions are just one key injury away from disaster, unlike some of their biggest rivals.

Spain, Germany and France could all survive multiple key injuries, and Portugal simply can't.

    

Impressive Dias Deserves Belgium Start

Ruben Dias may just be 21 years old, but the Benfica youngster was one of the standouts on Monday, playing alongside longtime Portugal defender Pepe.

Hagen came away impressed with Dias, and rightly so:

I've liked the look of this Rúben Dias-Pepe partnership so far. Lots of power and they complement each other abilities well. If they can develop a good understanding between them before the World Cup, they'll be my preferred center-backs in Russia. pic.twitter.com/L6fqerPUoR

— Jan Freðrik Hagen (@JanFHagen) May 28, 2018

It's too early to name the youngster a certain starter in Russia, as Tunisia hardly boast world-class talent up front. Saturday's friendly in Brussels against Belgium will be a much sterner test, and Dias should start there too, as he tries to earn his spot the hard way.

    

Tunisia Will Make Things Interesting in Group G

World Cup Group G should be a straight-forward affair, with European teams England and Belgium expected to advance at the expense of Panama and Tunisia. Those teams will have kept a close eye on Monday's contest and saw a confident and solid team not afraid to take chances.

Saif-Eddine Khaoui had several chances to give his team the lead before Silva struck, and Badri's goal came after a well-organised team move. If not for some poor marking and bad clearances, the first half could have played out a lot differently. Ben Youssef's equaliser was deserved as well.

Tunisia clearly struggle with crosses and an aerial assault, a recipe for disaster against physical teams like Belgium―who thrive with Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini―and England. Harry Kane is one of the best in the Premier League at heading the ball.

But when the ball is on the ground, the Carthage Eagles can hold their own, and they're not afraid to move forward. Neutral fans will be glad about that―it beats watching Tunisia sit back and do nothing but defend against both England and Belgium.

                    

What's Next?

Portugal face a massive test in Belgium on Saturday, while Tunisia play Turkey on Friday.