Portugal are the first side to clinch a place in the Euro 2016 semi-finals thanks to a penalty shoot-out win over Poland in Marseille last night.
Portugal 1 Poland 1 (aet 5-4 on penalties)
Portugal saw off a stubborn, if limited, Poland to make the last four of Euro 2016, with Ricardo Quaresma (6.0) firing home the decisive spot-kick.
It was the second consecutive helping of extra-time for both sides, though the victors should have plenty of chance to rest and recuperate, given that their semi-final against Belgium or Wales is set to take place next Wednesday evening.
The match burst into life after just a minute and 42 seconds when Robert Lewandowski finally opened his tournament account, finishing smartly from a Kamil Grosicki cross.
Portugal didn’t panic and were deservedly level before the break, Renato Sanches (4.4) blasting in from a Nani (7.5) flick for his first international goal.
The new Bayern Munich signing’s budget price in the official Uefa game persuaded 19% of managers to invest, and he was more than worth the modest outlay, with three shots, a trio of crosses and one chance created. In his first start of the tournament, Sanches played the entire 120 minutes and last night’s impact will surely see him retain a starting berth next time out.
Another low-cost option, Southampton full-back Cedric Soares (4.5), also performed well, putting in eight crosses, creating four chances and hitting one shot that flew narrowly wide. His team-mate on the opposite flank, Eliseu (4.9), provided 13 crosses – the Polish full-backs managed just six between them.
Both Soares and centre-half Jose Fonte (4.5) have now started each of the last two and offer excellent value in the Uefa game, though it remains to be seen if Eliseu will retain the left-back berth should Raphael Guerreiro prove his fitness in time for next week.
Cristiano Ronaldo (12.0) had another disappointing evening. Some 39% of managers bit the bullet and invested in the Uefa game’s most expensive player, but he struggled to justify that lofty valuation and managed just one of his five attempts on target.
His strike partner Nani (7.5) was marginally more productive, with two of his five attempts working the goalkeeper, and, having supplied the assist for Sanches’ strike, remains a far more budget-friendly alternative.
The result was arguably the right one as the more progressive team on the night finally prevailed, although it was tough on Poland’s star of the tournament, Jakub Blaszczykowski, to be the man who missed the decisive penalty.
Portugal aren’t exactly setting Euro 2016 alight, though – they have yet to win a match in 90 minutes – and will have to try and do so on Wednesday without the suspended midfielder William Carvalho (5.4).
