Whereas Portugal may need wanted a second-half flurry to get the job executed on Thursday evening, Roberto Martinez’s facet prolonged on their EURO 24 qualifying romp as they secured a 2-0 victory towards Liechtenstein.
Though the previous European champions may need been pissed off for giant spells, Portugal got here roaring again after the interval because the record-breaking Cristiano Ronaldo produced a screamer simply seconds after the half-time break.
Persevering with on what has been a Group J romp this 12 months and already breezing their technique to EURO 24 with out having to get out of second gear, Martinez’s celebrity squad have made fairly the assertion of intent.
With Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo bagging his tenth worldwide strike simply 11 minutes after Ronaldo’s opener, Portugal have now gained every of their 9 qualifying appearances by an combination rating of 34-2.
Finally breezing previous the Group J whipping boys on Thursday evening and watching Liechtenstein lengthen on their qualifying nightmare, we’ve got taken a have a look at the important thing speaking factors from Vadiz.
Portugal make one other assertion forward of EURO 24
Whereas Portugal may need suffered World Cup frustration out in Qatar over the winter as they ultimately needed to accept a quarter-final end, the European giants actually haven’t proven any indicators of a hangover this 12 months.
Solely persevering with to shine since they appointed Martinez earlier within the 12 months, Thursday’s friends are actually driving a significant wave of momentum.
Breezing their technique to EURO 24 and not likely having to get out of second gear, the previous Belgium boss now finds his squad tipped as a real contender once they arrive in Germany subsequent 12 months.
Though Portugal may need been pissed off for giant spells right here, the Navigators have gained every of their 9 Group J appearances and so they have actually gained a fearsome repute for his or her free-scoring performances within the closing third.
The truth is, together with securing a record-breaking 9-0 romp once they welcomed Luxembourg to Lisbon again on September eleventh, the previous European champions have notched a surprising 32 objectives of their 9 qualifying appearances.
Ronaldo makes much more worldwide historical past
Whereas Portugal may need prolonged on their EURO 24 qualifying romp in midweek, it was actually Cristiano Ronaldo who as soon as once more stole all of Martinez’s headlines.
Though the five-time Ballon d’Or winner may need made a blockbuster transfer to Saudi Arabia final 12 months, the ex-Manchester United celebrity has continued on one other record-breaking flurry.
Making his 207th worldwide look for the previous European champions on Thursday evening, it’s no secret that Ronaldo can have a number one function to play when Portugal arrive in Germany subsequent 12 months.
Solely persevering with to cement the truth that he’s nonetheless Portugal’s poster boy heading in 2024, the 38-year-old icon scored a world record-extending 128th worldwide aim right here.
Ronaldo has remained prolific for his nation regardless of leaving Manchester United for the Saudi league, scoring 10 objectives for Portugal this 12 months. Ali Daei’s 108 objectives for Iran was the earlier males’s goalscoring world file.
Liechtenstein’s qualifying nightmare continues
Whereas Liechtenstein may need all the time been tipped as a landslide contender to raise the picket spoon in Group J this 12 months, Thursday’s hosts have endured an actual qualifying nightmare.
Though Konrad Funfstuck’s males may need pissed off Portugal for giant spells of the first-half right here, the Blues are actually limping their method over the end line.
Signing off October’s worldwide break with one other toothless efficiency as they suffered a 4-0 drumming away at Iceland, Liechtenstein have misplaced every of their 9 Group J appearances and so they have did not put a single level on the board.
Shedding these 9 Group J appearances by an combination rating of 27-1, the midweek hosts are within the midst of a history-making nightmare.
The truth is, Funfstuck’s struggling squad have remarkably misplaced all of their final 22 straight showdowns throughout all competitions – a run that stems again to a 1-1 draw towards Armenia again in September 2021.
Match Report
Liechtenstein: B. Buchel, Malin, Wieser, Traber, Beck, Luchinger, M. Buchel, Sele, Goppel, Hasler, Salanovic
Subs: Hofer, Kranz, Russo, Meier, Marxer
Portugal: Sa, Cancelo, Antonio Silva, Toti, Jota, Neves, Fernandes, B. Silva, Ronaldo, Ramos, Felix
Subs: Neves, Vitinha, Mario, Horta, Bruma
Objectives: Ronaldo (46’), Cancelo (57’)
Yellow Playing cards: Liechtenstein: Luchinger – Portugal: Jota
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim
