Euro: Ronaldo's Portugal promise goals will start to flow
Cristiano Ronaldo, right, scores from a header which was later ruled out for offside against Austria.
No team managed as many shots as
Portugal in their opening two games at Euro 2016, yet all they have to
show for it are one goal, two points and a possible early exit from the
competition.
One of the most technically gifted of the 24 teams,
Portugal managed 50 goal attempts in their two games, featuring 17 on
target, 17 off target and 16 which were blocked.
After Germany, they are also the team that has enjoyed the most possession, at an average of 62 percent per match.
But
poor finishing means they go into Wednesday's Group F match against
Hungary in third place and a distinctly uncomfortable position.
Only a win over the unbeaten Hungarians will take them into the last 16 without depending on other matches.
Hungary,
meanwhile, need a draw to make sure of a top-two finish although even
if they lose they could qualify as one of the four best third-placed
teams.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of Portugal's biggest
culprits, missing an easy chance late in the 1-1 draw with Iceland and
firing a penalty against the post late in the Austria match.
Portugal's
players have offered little insight into what is going wrong, saying
merely that if they keep trying, the goals will start flowing
eventually.
"We did everything well, but once again the ball
didn't go in....what can you say?" said Nani after the goalless draw
against Austria on Saturday.
"We can't just keep making excuses
about the ball not going in. We played well and we were superior to a
very strong team. Our time will come, and that will be in the next game.
We are going to be very lucky and all our shots will go in."
"We're not even thinking of another draw, it's not part of our mentality
and would not demonstrate our quality," he said. "We have to resolve
this solution and win the last match in the group. I'm sure we will do
it.
"The most important thing is to convert the chances we create, which hasn't happened so far. But I'm sure things will change."
Coach Fernando Santos said that a more ruthless approach is required.
"Sometimes,
I get the feeling that we are ashamed about being ugly, or not being
pretty. If we have to be ugly and that brings us efficiency, we have to
be ugly," he said.
"I'm ugly by nature and I don't mind being even uglier."
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