Spoken like somebody that only watches Portugal once a year…..
Portugal’s top goal scorer in the nations league and we won over Spain last year but he holds us back…
Portugal’s top goal score in World Cup qualifiers yet he’s holding us back…
You gotta stop watching ESPN to get your news, bro
🇫🇷 France were EXTREMELY impressive yesterday.
Deschamps had a masterful tactical plan from the off despite illogical criticism on the timeline.
France had a clear idea.
4-3-3 which morphed into a 3-1-6 higher.
Tchouaméni, Rabiot, and the two centre backs handled the build-up high with the fullbacks making selfless runs off the ball into the final third.
Hernández and Koundé had very clear roles - make runs off the ball into the lane where Olise and Doué were not positioned.
For example, when Olise was inside, Koundé was wide. Or, when Doué was wide, Hernández was inside.
Dembélé also had license to roam and 'feel the spaces' in the #10.
We saw a lot of fluidity positionally amongst the French players too. Olise would often drop to get touches, Dembélé found himself all over the pitch, and Doué even drifted across from left to right at times. That level of freedom works IF the positional structure is largely maintained around it, and it was. Too much focus on positional play becomes too predictable to defend. Too much focus on fluidity prevents the team from being organised. Deschamps struck a nice balance in this regard.
Mbappé did a phenomenal job of being patient and staying away in the #9, too.
With all of the dynamism and creativity around him, France need a focal point in attack. Like Giroud in the past. Mbappé was positionally disciplined and he scored as a direct consequence of that in the second half with Olise creating something out of nothing for him in the #9.
In the second half, Deschamps tweaked things slightly dynamics-wise. He swapped Olise and Dembélé, likely because Olise was a little too 'free' with his movements which often caused Koundé to hold the width on the right. With Dembélé being more tactically disciplined, he held the width more often with Olise inside and Koundé continued to support with off-ball runs.
I also thought that France were excellent defensively, particularly in the first half (see next tweet for more).
The World Cup starts today 🌍
One stage. Millions watching. Football brings the world together once again.
Shop the National Teams Retro Shirts via https://t.co/eei2M85ulK
Negociações para um Benfica - Santos na pré-temporada em Portugal
Tentativas de encaixe no calendário neste momento e muita vontade para que aconteça.
Há um peso histórico, porque a ideia é fazer uma espécie de homenagem à final do Mundial de Interclubes - Taça Intercontinental de 1962, onde se defrontaram o Pelé e o Eusébio (foi a duas mãos com jogo no Vila Belmiro e no Estádio da Luz, único jogo em Portugal entre as duas equipas).
The Portugal Collection Has Arrived 🇵🇹
A tribute to the craft, character and emotion of Portuguese football, inspired by legendary tournament nights and retro Seleção style.
Now available via https://t.co/eei2M84Wwc