Portugal 2-0 Wales
Portugal qualified for the final of Euro 2016 after a dominant performance resulted in a 2-0 victory over Wales.
An authoritative display was translated into second-half goals by Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, and after Ronaldo's thumping header hit the net, the win was never truly in doubt.
The Seleção will play either Germany or France in the final at the Stade France in Paris on Sunday evening.
It’s probably fair to say that, prior to the start of this tournament, Portugal fancied themselves to get to the semi final stages of Euro 2016. What they probably didn’t expect was to be facing Wales. But, the footballing God’s conspired to make it so - and the world had its eyes particularly on Real Madrid team mates, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Who would win the personal battle in Lyon?
Fernando Santos was forced into a change as Bruno Alves replaced the injured Pepe to partner José Fonte at the heart of the back four. Raphael Guerreiro was fit again and returned to left-back in place of Eliseu, while Danilo Pereira earned a spot in the holding role in place of William Carvalho. Renato Sanches kept his place in the middle.
The Welsh manager, Chris Coleman, brought in tall centre-back, James Collins, for this game. The obvious raison d’être was to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in check from set pieces as Wales went to a back three.
First Half
This was a game that was slow to start. Neither goalkeeper was tested for some time and both sides seemed to be trying to work each out with a slow tempo. Indeed, it would take until just after the quarter of an hour mark for the first real chance, and it was to go Portugal’s way…
On 16 minutes, a neat interchange just outside the Welsh box with Cristiano Ronaldo, played in João Mário. The Sporting midfielder advanced into the box but fired low and ultimately wide of Wayne Hennessey’s far post.
Two minutes later, Gareth Bale finally stamped his mark on the game with a burst of pace down the left. His attempted cross was blocked by José Fonte for a corner. The Southampton man did well to keep pace with Bale and snuff out the danger. The corner was subsequently played into the box low by Joe Ledley to find Gareth Bale unmarked. The Madrid man fired a first time shot but safely wide and high for Portugal. It was a warning shot for Fernando Santos’ side.
Moments later, a turn of pace by Bale saw him escape his club team mate, Ronaldo, and his low cross was aimed into the box but Rui Patrício managed to get down quickly to hold the ball and calm Portuguese nerves.
Bale was then again the hub of the action as he ran down the right and cut inside to unleash a shot from outside the box with Bruno Alves backing off. Patrício got behind the shot but Wales were starting to create chances and ask questions of the Portugal back four.
On 25 minutes, Chris Gunter played a ball into Hal Robson-Kanu from the right. Robson-Kanu then turned Bruno Alves and gets around his man at pace to put the ball into the box. Leicester City striker, Andy King, beaten to it by Fonte who heads clear for a corner to Wales.
Ten minutes before the break, Adrien Silva received the ball just outside the box. The Welsh side packed bodies in between him and Hennessey’s goal but, with little else on, the Sporting man went for goal and drove a low shot harmlessly wide. 0-0 at the break and much to ponder for Fernando Santos and his players.
Second Half
After the break, Portugal had slightly more urgency about their play than in the first half. And they didn’t leave it long to administer the first cut to Welsh flesh.
Just five minutes into the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo headed home powerfully from a well-worked corner on the left. Raphael Guerreiro’s cross was met perfectly by the skipper who escaped his marker for the first time in the game and gave Hennessey no chance. Portugal had only lead teams for a total of 22 minutes in the tournament prior to this game. They now had the chance to increase that significantly.
And just three minutes later, Portugal doubled their lead with a speculative shot from outside the box by Ronaldo. The captain did not catch the ball well but managed to do enough to steer it into the path of Nani who beat his marker to tap the ball past Hennessey. It was to ultimately prove the killer blow to this plucky Welsh side and they were never really allowed license to cause Portugal problems from that point.
A half chance from a free-kick saw Cristiano Ronaldo go close again but just after the hour Portugal really should have extended their lead further. Nani’s drive from distance was only parried by Hennessey, into the path of João Mário who didn’t have time to react and shot tamely wide. It was a big let off for Wales and it’s those kinds of chances Fernando Santos’ side will need to be clinical with come the final.
Gareth Bale attempted to spark life into a, by now, ailing Welsh side but Rui Patrício was the equal of anything the Madrid man could throw at him. Among the chances was a speculative 35 yard drive on the half volley. The Sporting stopper was rarely seriously troubled for the rest of the game though.
Twelve minutes from time, Danilo robbed Bale on the edge of the Welsh box and advanced with the ball. Pereira shot low and with power at a diving Hennessey but the ball squirmed under the giant Welsh stopper but the Crystal Palace man was able to recover and stop the ball on the line as Nani closed in for the kill.
And so Portugal looked far more comfortable in the second half and will go into the final against France or Germany in confident mood. Ronaldo will feel he has answered some of his critics with his goal tonight and it will be a brave person to bet against Santos’ side. They may have been slow to start the tournament, but the side is finding form at just the right time. The expatriates in France will descend on St Denis to back the side in numbers on Sunday. Maybe, just maybe, this is the tournament where they will have a title to celebrate…
by Paul Gellard
Portugal: Rui Patrício - Cédric, Bruno Alves, José Fonte, Guerreiro - Danilo, Renato Sanches (André Gomes 74'), Adrien Silva (João Moutinho 79'), João Mário - Ronaldo (C), Nani (Quaresma 86')
Wales: Hennessey - Gunter, Chester, Collins (J. Williams 66'), A. Williams (C), Taylor - Allen, Ledley (Vokes 58'), King - Robson-Kanu (Church 63'), Bale
Goals:
[1-0] Ronaldo, 50'
[2-0] Nani, 53'
