Portugal nation football team in a new version

Coach Fernando Santos led Portugal for 9 years and 109 matches, during which time they won two titles at EURO 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019. However, their elimination in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup against Morocco resulted in Santos leaving his position. The arrival of Martinez, who previously led the Belgian team for many years, is expected to help Portugal reclaim their position in European football.

A new "version" of Portugal 

Portugal in coach Fernando Santos's period

Coach Santos was appointed to lead Portugal in September 2014, during a time of disappointment and instability for the country's football team. They had been eliminated from the 2014 World Cup in the group stage, and suffered an embarrassing 0-1 defeat to Albania in their first match of the EURO 2016 qualifying round, causing the team to be booed by their own fans at Aveiro stadium. Three months later, coach Paulo Bento was fired.

Portugal won UEFA Euro 2016

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Since then, under Santos' leadership, Portugal has become a pragmatic and difficult team to beat. They went on to win EURO 2016, Santos' first major tournament as national team coach, and also won the UEFA Nations League. Santos has been able to achieve what many other famous coaches in Portugal have not, which is bringing home championships.

Portugal is no longer a fragmented collective lacking in identity. They now participate in tournaments as championship contenders. Despite their defeat at the 2022 World Cup, Santos' legacy in Portugal is still significant.

The difference between Portugal of Fernando Santos and Belgium of coach Martinez

The distinction between Santos' Portugal team and Martinez's Belgium team is in their playing style. Belgium prefers to play with control, prioritizing the building of play from the back with a defense of 3 central defenders. They deploy the ball diversely, either through the middle or out to the wings. In some matches, Belgium has controlled more than 75% of possession (81% against Estonia and 76% against Wales).

On the other hand, Portugal focuses on speed and quick movement of the ball, making fewer passes. Known as the "European Brazil," they emphasize attacking from the wings to approach the opponent's goal.

Portugal's version under the lead of new coach Roberto Martinez

One of the notable changes that coach Martinez has implemented in the Portuguese national team is the use of a system with 3 central defenders. During his time as coach of the Belgian national team, he used this formation in 75 out of 79 matches. In his latest squad selection, Martinez called up 10 defenders, 6 of whom are central defenders. Pepe, Danilo Pereira, and Ruben Dias are the top choices for the 3 central defender positions.

On the flanks, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, and Raphael Guerreiro will compete for the starting spot. Cancelo is the highest-rated among them. The 28-year-old defender has contributed 4 assists and scored 1 goal in 9 games for Bayern Munich since January. His expected assist (xA) level at Bayern is 0.28, which is less than Thomas Muller's (0.36) and Kingsley Coman's (0.46).

Belgium have the highest win rate in Europe (77%) under coach Martinez

Despite Belgium being ranked as the number one team by FIFA for a considerable period, there are still concerns about coach Martinez's ability. The "Red Devils" have not reached a final in the past 6 years, with their best performance being a 3rd place finish in the 2018 World Cup.

Ronaldo's importance

The fact that coach Martinez called up CR7 indicates that he still values the experience and goal-scoring ability of the 38-year-old superstar. In January, Martinez traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss Ronaldo's future in the national team. The question remains: how will Martinez utilize Ronaldo's skills?

Ronaldo has already shown his talent in the Saudi Pro League, scoring 9 goals in his first 8 matches for Al Nassr and joining the race for top scorer of the tournament. However, the Saudi Pro League is only ranked 27th among the top leagues in the world, according to Opta, and the pressures Ronaldo faces there are much lower than during his time playing in Europe.

Ronaldo still had important role in Portugal's squad

Hence, there is intense competition for places in the Portuguese attack. Ronaldo faces stiff competition from the likes of Goncalo Ramos, who has netted 19 goals in 31 games for Benfica this season and is the top scorer in the Portuguese league. In addition, there are other young and talented options in Rafael Leao, Joao Felix, and Diogo Jota.

If CR7 continues his scoring form at Al Nassr, Coach Martinez has a compelling reason to name him as the primary starter. However, if his form dips, he could find himself relegated to the bench as was the case in the 2022 World Cup.

The called-up list of the Portuguese team in March

Portugal's EURO 2024 qualifying campaign commenced on March 24 with a match against Liechtenstein, followed by a fixture against Luxembourg on March 27. Against weaker opponents, Coach Martinez's side has the chance to test the squad and showcase a more ambitious team.

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