Portugal finished their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 100 per cent record by beating Iceland 2-0 on Nov 19, after Serbia booked their place at 2024's Finals in Germany and Romelu Lukaku scored four goals for Belgium.
Bruno Fernandes and Ricardo Horta netted the goals for Roberto Martinez's Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo not on the scoresheet, to end with 10 wins from 10 matches in Group J, having scored 36 times and conceded just twice.
It is the first time they have ended a qualification campaign with a perfect record.
Said coach Roberto Martinez: "In big tournaments it can come down to small details against the best players in the world. Sometimes we cannot control the results.
"What we can control are the performances and what we saw in the last 10 games is that the performances are of the highest level."
The 2016 winners will be among the favourites for the title in what could be the 38-year-old Ronaldo's last major tournament.
Midfielder Joao Palhinha cannot wait for Euro 2024 to roll around, saying: "The other big teams will have respect for us, because we know that our individual and collective value is there. I really want the Euro to come."
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin November 21, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin November 21, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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