In a hard-fought match characterized by a clash of styles – Portugal’s attack against Iceland’s solid defense – the Seleccao secured a 2-0 victory. Breaking Iceland’s resilience, Bruno Fernandes netted a spectacular goal, expertly placing the ball into the bottom corner after a deft flick from Bernardo Silva.
The second goal came courtesy of Ricardo Horta, sealing the game as he tapped in a rebound from a Joao Felix shot.
Despite a late push from Iceland, hitting the crossbar in injury time, Portugal comfortably maintained control. The win capped off Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a perfect record of ten wins in ten matches, positioning them as strong contenders for the tournament in Germany next summer.
Player Ratings:
– Diogo Costa (6/10): Had little to do until a late scare from Iceland.
– Joao Mario (6/10): Controlled the ball well but couldn’t impact the final third. Substituted for Guerreiro.
– Ruben Dias (7/10): Demonstrated defensive excellence, with Iceland unable to find a way past him.
– Goncalo Inacio (6/10): Missed a first-half chance but performed well defensively.
– Joao Cancelo (7/10): Impressive with versatile dribbles and excellent crosses.
Midfield:
– Otavio (6/10): A mishit cross early on, but couldn’t influence play as desired.
– Joao Palhinha (6/10): Composed in midfield, handling defensive duties effectively.
– Bruno Fernandes (8/10): Scored a brilliant goal, orchestrated the game with exceptional passes.
Attack:
– Bernardo Silva (7/10): Crafty assist for Fernandes’ goal, consistently finding space.
– Cristiano Ronaldo (4/10): Missed chances and remained relatively quiet.
– Joao Felix (7/10): Intelligent play on the left wing, creating opportunities.
Subs & Manager:
– Ricardo Horta (7/10): Substitution for Silva, promptly scored after a goalmouth scramble.
– Raphael Guerreiro (6/10): Replaced Joao Mario, contributing defensively.
– Roberto Martinez (7/10): Belgium manager had a comfortable night, maintaining a perfect qualifying record and instilling confidence for the upcoming tournament in Germany.