Haris Seferovic scored the fastest goal in UEFA Nations League history to help Switzerland down Portugal, who lacked the intention and intensity.
Portugal dropped down to second in their UEFA Nations League group after a narrow defeat to Switzerland. The Seleccao were lacklustre in their outing and failed to produce the usual vigour expected from such a key side in Europe. Despite the presence of many key attackers on this team, they never really tested this Swiss defence.
They did not show the sharpness required at the start of the game, which ultimately cost them. Haris Seferovic was on hand to nod the fastest goal in UEFA Nations League history as he nodded in Silvan Widmer’s pinpoint cross beyond Rui Patricio and gave Switzerland a shock lead against Fernando Santos’s men.
They could have doubled the lead as Switzerland were awarded a penalty, only for VAR to intervene and rule out the referee’s decision for a foul by a Swiss attacker in the build-up. In any case, the home side barely threatened, although they did cause minor problems to the Portuguese defence when that happened.
Conversely, Portugal never looked likely to score in this game. They lacked the intensity in this match and allowed the home team plenty of time and space to plan their next move. There was a goal by Rafael Leao disallowed for offside, but the Seleccao never got into this clash from the first whistle till the last. Here’s how the Portuguese stars fared during their narrow, uneventful defeat to Switzerland.
Switzerland have taken the lead for the first time in the 2022/23 Nations League.
A goal after 55 seconds from Haris Seferovic. ? pic.twitter.com/NNWIUSCagK
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 12, 2022
Rui Patricio: 5/10
Patricio did not have much to do during the game, and his 14 touches throughout the evening show his level of participation. Barring a few moments where he had to be alert, the AS Roma goalkeeper was not tested enough. However, for the opener, he could not have done anything about Seferovic’s strike, as the ball went past him into the net.
Joao Cancelo: 5/10
Cancelo had one of those games where he was ineffective in everything that he did, which is something uncommon by his standards. As a result, the Manchester City defender could not carve out any openings for his side and was thoroughly beaten in the air by Haris Seferovic’s early leap to give Switzerland the lead.
Pepe: 4/10
Pepe captained Portugal and was nowhere to be seen in the early parts, especially for the opening goal conceded by his side. There were some lapses in concentration, and the veteran defender will be disappointed by his overall display at the back.
Danilo Pereira: 4/10
Pereira is not suited in a central defensive partnership alongside Pepe, as he was somewhat anonymous in his outing. The PSG man was also at fault for the opener, as he and the veteran defender failed to organise the backline to deal with the threat that ultimately cost them the game.
Nuno Mendes: 7/10
Mendes was a threat down the left flank, and the PSG man was always available to make the right deliveries. However, his teammates lacked the end product to take advantage of his balls into the box. There was a huge let-off for him when his handball was adjudged to be a penalty and was later ruled out for an foul earlier in the build-up.
Bruno Fernandes: 5/10
Bruno Fernandes whines too much for a person who is considered to be Captain Material especially for a team like Manchester United! Also poor Dalot asking him to calm down! pic.twitter.com/dkEQMnuK0Z
— Sahini? (@sahini_bose) June 12, 2022
Bruno Fernandes continued with the torrid form he has been carrying all year long. The Manchester United playmaker was not given much room to operate, and whenever he got into decent positions in the final third, his teammates often failed to pick him out.
Ruben Neves: 6/10
Neves was slightly better than Fernandes in midfield, as he tried his best to drive the team forwards with his midfield work. The battle between him and Granit Xhaka ended with both players getting an equal share of the pie.
Otavio: 4.5/10
Otavio did not make much of an impact in the first half and was substituted at the break.
Rafael Leao: 5/10
Much was expected from Leao in this Portuguese attack, and in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, he should have done much more to make his case. But, unfortunately, he also had a goal ruled out for offside, although he did nothing wrong to get the ruling.
Andre Silva; 4/10
Silva worked hard for his cause but was ineffective in whatever he did in the box. Crucially, he was starved of good service, and that factor barely helped his talents as a striker.
Vitinha: 4/10
Vitinha had a terrible game until he was withdrawn. Until then, the attacker had barely produced anything to create danger for the opposition defence while failing to forge a partnership with his fellow attackers.
SUBSTITUTES
Diogo Jota: 6/10
Jota added something different to the otherwise lacklustre Portugal attack. The Liverpool man had a good chance to level the score, but glanced his header wide.
Matheus Nunes: 4/10
Nunes did not have the required impact to tilt the game to Portugal’s favour. Instead, he floated around on the pitch until the final whistle.
Ricardo Horta: N/A
Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
