After one of the worst games in modern tournament history, one of the hitherto best teams at Euro 2016 -- Croatia -- go out and one of the best players -- Cristiano Ronaldo -- stays in.
After being so subdued for so much of the match, the Portuguese star was finally released on 117 minutes and it was his shot -- the first on target of the entire game by either side -- that was parried by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic to Ricardo Quaresma, who headed in the decisive goal for Portugal.
It was then that the match finally came to life and the goal was cruel on Croatia who, just before the goal, had finally tried to make something happen. Ivan Perisic flashed the ball across the box only for substitute Nikola Kalinic to fail to reach it. Perisic then headed against the post.
With Croatia momentarily stretched, Portugal went straight up the other end to score, which helped ensure there was more drama in the final five minutes than in the preceding 115. Domagoj Vida missed the last of his three headed chances in that time, as Croatia desperately looked for an equaliser.
For the vast majority of the match, it seemed that penalties were inevitable, though there were questions over whether the players would even be able to get a shot on target in a shootout, such had been the paucity of opportunities.
In fact, one of the few pieces of attacking action might have led to a spot kick. Nani felt he should have had a penalty upon being taken down in the 63rd minute. It was one of few points of note, a rare moment when something actually happened.
Two technically good teams cancelled each other out. Croatia looked nothing like the nimble team that had beaten Spain just four days previously. They no longer looked like potential champions and now, thanks to Quaresma, they definitely won't be.
Portugal and Ronaldo, however, have Poland next and a seemingly more forgiving route to the final. That will surely bring more action and life than did this game.
2. Ronaldo makes an impact when it matters
In the warmup, Ronaldo scored a flick very similar to his brilliant first goal against Hungary, to suggest that that might have been the spark to ignite his tournament. That was the best he and the evening got--- until right at the end.
Ronaldo might well be on top form again but it is so hard to tell because one of the many problems with this game was that Portugal barely managed any service to him and he couldn't really get into the game. Indeed, after taking 32 shots in the group stage, the effort that led to Quaresma's goal was his first and only one of the night.
Croatia did a good job of shuttling him out. On 14 minutes, Ronaldo tried to cut inside only to be challenged and, on 23, he was just taken down for a free kick. In the second half he was forced to drop further back -- at one point he forcibly won a header on the halfway line -- but it said much that he was showing one of his best talents there rather than near the Croatia goal.
Portugal could barely get close to it but Ronaldo got close to showing his temper on 86 minutes. After substitute Renato Sanches had brilliantly broke to release Quaresma, the subsequent cross was wayward, leaving the Portuguese captain gesturing his frustration.
He was smiling at the end, though. When his teammates finally get the ball to him in a dangerous area, it produced the winning goal.
3. Croatia's Euro 2016 dreams are over
How did Croatia go from such a vibrant display against Spain to a flat performance against, by comparison to the European champions, an inferior side; especially with Luka Modric back in the team?
The answer might actually lie in Portugal's very inferiority. When they seek to play on the break and cede possession, it might suit Croatia to face better sides. Spain pass with such purpose and break the lines so willingly and creatively that there was just more for Croatia to respond to -- as well as more space to break into.
In this match, they so often tried to work the ball out to the wings for the same slick moves but just couldn't get in behind Portugal. It said much that two of their best chances came from set pieces, as Vida headed wide from a 60th-minute free-kick and then over in the second half of extra time.
At one point, Perisic seemed to get so impatient that he just looked to run through and shoot himself, but the poor quality of the effort emphasised just how difficult it was for Croatia to do anything in an attacking sense.
Even by the end of 90 minutes, they seemed to think they might have better luck with penalties and it seemed as if they were reserving their energy and concentration for that, as they stopped pressing in the same way as before. It was that which ended up costing them.
Credit- Miguel Delaney of the ESPN
No comments:
Post a Comment