Out of position, but hardly out of place: Bruno Fernandes steps up for Portugal again
Hindustan TimesIt was a scratchy Tuesday night for Portugal as they opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in Euro 2024 in Leipzig. Portugal's midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes controls the ball between Czech Republic's defender #05 Vladimir Coufal and Czech Republic's defender #04 Robin Hranac Bruno Fernandes, typically a more advanced playmaker, was positioned deeper alongside Vitinha. The position initially limited Fernandes' influence, but it is a testament to his brilliant skills that he proved his creative prowess by orchestrating Portugal's best efforts in the first half. When this publication asked Fernandes whether he believed Portugal could be more clinical in front of the goal in the games to come, the Manchester United captain insisted that goalscoring wasn't the only focus and the team did have a strong overall performance throughout the game. It will be intriguing to see if Roberto Martinez employs similar tactics against another formidable opponent, as Bruno Fernandes could be the key to unlocking Portugal's attacking potential, especially if he is utilized in a more advanced role on the pitch.