What we learned about Portugal this international break – with audio from USA-Portugal | OneFootball

Seleção correspondent, Nathan Motz, completes this month’s pause for international play by summarizing Portugal’s lessons learned.

He interviewed several USMNT players, including Christian Pulisic, to gain a better understanding of Portugal’s most critical concerns ahead of this summer’s main event.

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Alongside other reporters, I spoke with four players after Tuesday’s match to build this report and I included three of these interviews below. To give the reader some perspective on life as a digital press journalist, the audio I have attached may at first seem as if it contains little valuable information. My job, and that of all contributing press associates on this website, is to extract and present something meaningful to our readers, no matter the raw material I am given.

To that effect, and based not only on the interviews themselves, but my observations of the player’s body language and expressions in the mixed zone, I open for discussion those areas – tactically, regarding personnel, etc - where Portugal must improve the most.

1. Strengthen attacking fluidity

Matt Freese – GK, New York City FC

When asked what made Portugal most effective, Matt Freese highlighted good combination play up top. Sizing up his comment, I think of two first half moments, both involving Bruno Fernandes.

After nearly conceding several times in the opening minutes, Vitinha assumed control and switched on that special device – which only he seems to have – allowing him to geolocate vertical runs. Bruno duly obliged to receive his 8th minute pass and test the keeper with a good effort from the right side of the penalty area.

The second instance was the Trincão goal. Again, Vitinha spotted a breach in the USA defence, again finding Bruno Fernandes darting into the right side of the penalty area. And Bruno’s assist showed his rare breed of ability by which he makes the game easier for every player around him.

What’s key is the rapidity of thought and speed of transition upfield. Martinez’s Portugal is too dependent on the methodical tempo and possession-dominance afforded by Vitinha and João Neves. What it must do better is capitalize on Bruno Fernandes’ positional awareness – his rare ability to find and run into the smallest seam in the opponent’s defense. So long as I have covered the Portuguese national team, drawn out periods of possession have rarely been conducive to its success. Rather, well-timed counters, and purposeful, fluid transition – especially after a turnover – earns far better results.

In a game of very few chances against Mexico, Portugal’s key moments came not after sustained possession, but after a key breakdown in play initiated a more direct approach with a crisp passing tempo. Neto's run and shot on goal near the end of the second half, for example.

This is why Nuno Mendes and Bruno Fernandes will be Portugal’s most important players this tournament. They interrupt the pattern of stale possession, take the necessary risk, and possess the talent to execute appropriately – see Nuno Mendes’ contributions in the UNL final against Spain.

2. “Houston, we have a problem”…..on the wing

Sebastian Berhalter – Midfielder, Vancouver Whitecaps

What I found most interesting about this interview was Sebastian’s reference to Jérémy Doku. If you have watched Doku play, either for Belgium or Manchester City, you get the idea – a livewire every time he is on the ball. There is little elaboration in one sense. If you are a defender, you know what he is going to do but may struggle mightily to stop him from doing it.

Portugal, meanwhile, have been frighteningly inconsistent in fielding dynamic wide players aside from Nuno Mendes. With Leão and Bernardo Silva injured, Neto was given two great chances against Mexico and the USA. After showing some tenacity in the former, Neto was subdued against the USA as Weah and Pulisic caused defensive problems in the first half.

Conceição also got plenty of time in both matches. But when I asked Berhalter about key differences between Belgium, who defeated the USA 5-2 this break, and Portugal, he remembered Doku’s dynamism and suggested he felt much safer with Portugal content to "play in front of us."

Fundamentally, a winger should create 1-v-1 opportunities on the dribble, provide width, deliver crosses and cut-backs, and test the keeper. At present, none of our wingers are performing any of these key responsibilities effectively enough. When you add in João Cancelo’s struggles, Nuno Mendes may be the only consistent threat from wide.

Every Portugal supporter knows we struggle against a low block. Opponents will wait us out, watching meaningless rotations in wide areas.

Conceição and Neto both showed good pace, but neither broke the game wide open. Horta is better in a free-roaming capacity similar to how he plays for Braga rather than hugging the touchline.

With all our chances coming through the middle or through Nuno Mendes, our attack lacks versatility and could be shut down by a smart defence. This international break crystalized what most supporters already knew: Portugal needs better production from the flanks to have a realistic chance of making a deep run in the knockout rounds.

3. Organize effective tactical defence

Christian Pulisic – Forward, AC Milan

As evidenced by both matches, a more clinical team could punish Portugal at the World Cup. Christian Pulisic gave Portugal defenders quite the run-around, shooting narrowly wide with José Sá at full stretch in the first half. But more concerning perhaps was Weston McKennie’s free header off a simple corner.

You might reasonably expect chances like these to come and go with different defenders being tested out plus the absence of Rúben Dias for continuity. But make no mistake – this defence is soft. I have been openly critical of João Cancelo, but Gonçalo Inácio, António Silva and even Diogo Dalot hardly inspired confidence.

Christian Pulisic cut a frustrated figure in the mixed zone – his expressions and tones dripping with irritation. And rightly so – he absolutely should have scored, McKennie too.

His point that Portugal has players “skilled in possession” and “calm on the ball” offers a clue as to how we can help the defense. Yet my previous point remains – Martinez has overemphasized strategic control and possession dominance at the expense of more straightforward tactics. But perhaps this has always been an effort to shield the frail center of our defence?

If so, this is a real quandary with zero-sum consequences. Too much possession slows us down and reduces the effectiveness of key players like Bruno Fernandes. Too little possession may routinely put our defence under the type of pressure it cannot sustain for 90 minutes.

Rúben Dias’ return will help, but facts must be faced: Nuno Mendes aside, Martinez cannot expect the present defensive ensemble to hold up without significant cover from midfield. This will influence his tactical approach. Will a 3-man central midfield be enough? Will attacking options need to be sacrificed for a holding midfielder?

One might contend that the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uzbekistan might not challenge the backline consistently. But Colombia will give us a thorough examination, and knockout round opponents will be of sterner character. Something must give. Offense wins games, but defense wins championships. Choose wisely, Mr. Martinez. Pepe, we miss you!