A simple toast to Martinez

When we talk about Portugal, it’s always worth quoting the city’s writer: we are only truly happy when we can’t feel our shoes on our feet. Of course, this is to ensure greater satisfaction with the original plan for this Saturday. The line of four defenders, Nuno Mendes and Joao Cancelo returned to the flanks, Palinha released Vitinha.

Like the hand of a clock that always knows the way, Portugal quickly took control of the game, although the first shot came close to the goal defended by Diogo Costa.

But let’s go back to simplicity and move the clock forward: 21 minutes. Rafael Lean respects the rise of Nuno Mendes, a low cross and, thanks to Kokcu’s touch in the middle, Bernardo Silva finishes first with the first shot on ice in what threatened to turn Dortmund into a Turkish hell.

And if the scenario was already favorable, it soon became peaceful. People say that all the saints help during the descent. Türkiye decided to change the situation and take part in the Europarty for its own purposes. Ridiculous. Akaydin held the ball straight into the goal and politely, in good Portuguese, said a big thank you.

This Turkish hell was definitely a Portuguese home. The Portuguese were screaming in the stands, Pepe and Diogo Costa managed to cope with few threats, and there were even opportunities in attack to increase their lead.

In Dortmund, Portugal’s green signal was so strong that Martinez switched to yellow: Leao and Palinha were replaced at half-time by Pedro Neto and Ruben Neves. And the selector’s little star lights the way: it is Ruben who makes the pass, isolating Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. The captain’s decision to score showed there is a greater good and he is well deserving of another personal best.

And so, in the end, we return to the calculations from the very beginning. The most important thing: three goals, three points. It was all so simple. Like a person who can’t feel his shoes on his feet.