Portugal and Serbia faced off in the Euro 2016 final, but it wasn’t until after the match that fans realized they were playing for a higher prize.
The World Cup is a global phenomenon that has existed for over 100 years. Despite the country’s size and population, Portugal has yet to win a single game at the tournament. Their first-ever win came in 2006 – through penalty kicks. The team was led by their captain Ronaldo, who retired from international competition after leading them to victory against Greece in Euro 2016 only to come out of retirement one year later as he became coach of Real Madrid. He would go on to lead his nation twice more before retiring again this past summer
The “portugal vs serbia scorers” is a match between Portugal and Serbia. The two teams are playing in the group stage of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament.
Serbia won an automatic spot to the 2022 World Cup with a dramatic 2-1 victory against Portugal in their Group A qualifier on Sunday, putting an end to Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dreams.
– Europe: What every nation needs to qualify for the World Cup – UEFA World Cup qualifiers on ESPN+: Watch LIVE games and catch up on replays (U.S. only)
Serbia clinched the group’s top position with 20 points, three more than second-placed Portugal, who simply needed a tie to finish first on goal difference and qualify.
Instead, Ronaldo and his teammates will compete in the March playoffs with the other group-stage runners-up in the hopes of qualifying for Qatar 2022.
After visiting captain Dusan Tadic had cancelled out an early Renato Sanches opening for Portugal, Mitrovic beat home goalkeeper Rui Patricio with a downward header at the far post, sparking wild celebrations on Serbia’s bench.
As they waved Serbian flags and honked their vehicle horns, jubilant supporters thronged downtown Belgrade, putting traffic to a standstill at the prominent Republic Square.
Portugal offered nothing up forward without their talismanic captain Ronaldo, and midfielder Joao Palhinha admitted the hosts were below standard.
He told Portugal’s RTP television, “We have to accept responsibility since we had a horrible game.” “In the second half, we basically defended.” Serbia deserved credit for their performance, but we had the potential to win.
“Everyone in the locker room is unhappy, but we must now focus on the playoffs because we are more than capable of making the World Cup.”
“It’s impossible to win all of the time. Difficulties are inevitable in life, and this emotion should strengthen us.”
Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo will have to wait until March to know whether they can qualify for Qatar. Getty Images/PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP
Bernardo Silva dispossessed Nemanja Gudelj of the ball in the danger zone in the second minute and released Sanches, who smashed it past goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic from 15 meters.
Unfazed by the deficit, the visitors came near to equalizing when Dusan Vlahovic, who was preferred over Mitrovic as the lone striker, struck the post before Patricio gave Serbia the lead.
Tadic took a deflected shot from 20 meters that sailed over Patricio’s fingers and past the line, apparently harmless.
On the stroke of halftime, Rajkovic fumbled the ball, giving Portugal a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead, but Joao Moutinho’s attempt was stopped on the line by Nikola Milenkovic.
Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic substituted Mitrovic for Gudelj, and the Fulham striker, who is Serbia’s all-time leading scorer with 44 goals in 69 games, delivered.
Following Mitrovic headed inches wide in the 85th minute, it seemed like Portugal would hold on, but the striker got the final laugh as he surged away from his opponents at the death to head home after Tadic’s right-wing cross.
Serbia’s confidence going into the game, according to Mitrovic, was validated by a brave performance.
“We came here to play football, and we deserved it all because we were the superior team,” he told Serbia’s Nova television.
“We are enjoying the benefits of our hard work and conviction in our ability to overcome the odds and defeat Portugal. We are pleased, first and foremost for our nation and its people.”
“We deserved to win today because the boys showed so much courage,” Stojkovic continued. This is a tremendous achievement for Serbian football.
“Under extreme pressure, the players displayed maturity and control, and I would have said the same thing if the score had remained 1-1 and we had been relegated to the playoffs.”
Today Portugal and Serbia will play in a Euro 2016 soccer match. This is the first time these two teams have met in a competitive game. The winner of this game will move on to the knockout round of the tournament. Reference: portugal vs serbia today.
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