Gonçalo Ramos does it again.
This long (very long, seemingly endless) international break is sending a striker back to Milan full of confidence. Yesterday against Norway, the Portuguese forward scored for the third consecutive match for his national team.
Without Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorge Jesus’s side recorded their third win, each one bearing the mark of the Rossoneri striker. Yesterday, Ramos did well to slip off the opposing defenders’ radar and appear unmarked inside the six-yard box, while also enjoying a little luck as he bundled in João Félix’s excellent delivery. These are the classic situations in which it does not matter how cleanly you strike the ball, only where it ends up.
With this victory, Portugal achieve three things: they secure qualification for the quarter-finals, lock down top spot in the group, and make the inevitable discussion over how Cristiano Ronaldo will eventually say goodbye to the national team a little less tense. Yesterday’s match, played at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, was not particularly attractive. Perhaps both teams were feeling the effects of a demanding run of closely spaced fixtures. Haaland was barely involved and eventually asked to be substituted because of a muscular problem.
Moments of brilliance
In the first half, Portugal take control of the match and prevent Norway’s attacking trio from getting into gear. Jorge Jesus relies mainly on the right flank, where Cancelo and Conceição combine well and repeatedly push forward. João Félix looks lively, and his runs unsettle Solbakken’s defence, although Norway still concede little, partly because Portugal’s crosses into the middle are often inaccurate.
Shortly before half-time, however, two superb goals from the edge of the box light up the evening. Ajer’s strike in the 36th minute and Cancelo’s in the 38th are remarkably similar: both are powerful, precise outside-of-the-foot efforts following set-piece situations. The Norwegian defender controls Ødegaard’s free kick before unleashing an unstoppable right-footed shot, while the Portuguese full-back takes advantage of a Nuno Mendes throw-in and some poor concentration from three opponents, allowing the ball to travel more than twenty metres before reaching him.
Goal and red card
At the start of the second half, Cancelo and Conceição continue to trouble Norway. The full-back produces another excellent outside-of-the-foot effort, which Selvik reacts sharply to save. The Juventus winger, meanwhile, once again shows his difficulty in either finding the target or picking out teammates inside the penalty area.
Norway threaten only occasionally and manage to bring Haaland into the game just once, with his angled shot going wide. During the same move, the Manchester City striker feels some discomfort, begins to limp and asks to come off, with Strand Larsen replacing him.
A Ruben Neves volley from a promising position flies over the bar. Ramos then settles the contest with a close-range finish following a superb first-time aerial assist from João Félix.
Late on, a frustrated Conceição is sent off by referee Mariani, who appears more willing to punish dissent than certain fouls. First, the Juventus player complains about a supposed penalty (there was no foul) and is booked. A few seconds later, he gives the referee a thumbs-up gesture and is shown a second yellow card, bringing his match to an early end.
