Cautious Portugal boss too reliant on veterans

Manager Fernando Santos

Confirmation that you don't need to be the best team to triumph in a knockout competition came when Portugal claimed Euro 2016 despite winning only one match in normal time.

Portugal defended well and relied on Cristiano Ronaldo for most of their best moments and yet Fernando Santos has the players to take the Iberians' standard up a level.

Andre Silva showed during qualifying that he could be the natural number nine missing in Portugal's approach for so long. He scored nine times with Ronaldo adding 15 and only eight goals coming from anywhere other than the front two.

Nelson Semedo, Bernardo Silva, Bruma and Goncalo Guedes are some of those begging for chances, although the cautious Santos still relies on a core group and maybe this is a tournament too far for veteran defenders Pepe, Bruno Alves and Jose Fonte.

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