EURO2024Q: Second half focus gets the Navigators to nine in a row

Portugal are one game away from completing a perfect 100% record in European Championship qualification for the first time, after a hard-fought 2-0 win over a plucky Liechtenstein side at the Rheinpark StadionVaduz.

The task facing Konrad Fünfstück’s side was clear, given the Blue-Reds had lost their last 21 matches across all competitions heading into this clash and languished 200th in the FIFA world rankings. Victory looked set to be a mere formality for Roberto Martínez’s side, but Benjamin Büchel showed that the hosts were up for the fight after making a fine save to keep Rúben Neves’ fierce long-range strike. That effort from the former Wolves man was the only shot on target for the visitors inside the opening 20 minutes, who were up against a well-organised Liechtenstein defence.

EURO2024Q: No issues for Spain in the far east of the Mediterranean Sea

Gonçalo Ramos missed a golden opportunity to break the hosts’ resistance just shy of the half-hour mark, when he headed wide from point-blank range to meet João Cancelo’s cross. The Barcelona man then picked out his club team-mate and namesake, João Félix at the far post, but the latter horribly sliced his shot, while Cristiano Ronaldo attempted the spectacular with a bicycle kick that sailed harmlessly wide.

Ronaldo could not hide his disbelief a minute after the restart when his close-range strike cannoned off the post, but atoned for that miss less than a minute later. Diogo Jota played in the skipper with a perfectly-weighted pass, and he fired home a ferocious strike past Büchel to score his 128th senior international goal. Cancelo doubled the Seleção’s lead in the 57th minute and clinically punished Büchel, who was caught way outside his goal, firing home with a sublime left-footed strike.

Dennis Salanović could have halved the deficit just past the hour mark after being superbly spotted by Julien Hasler, but mistimed his finish and was easily thwarted by José Sá in a one-on-one chance. Félix had the ball in the back of the net again for Portugal with a fine finish at the far post, but was denied by the assistant’s flag. Ramos thought he had scored a third after he prodded Vitinha’s set-piece over the line, but the VAR also ruled this out for offside.

In truth, a 2-0 scoreline was probably a fair reflection of the match, given Portugal’s sloppiness at times and Liechtenstein’s ability to frustrate their more illustrious opponents. The Blue-Reds will hope to end what is now a 22-match losing streak when they host Luxembourg on Sunday, aiming to avoid what would be a first-ever pointless European Championship qualification campaign.

EURO 2024 QUALIFIERS

Thursday

Estonia - Austria 0-2 (0-2)

/Laimer 26, Lienhart 40/

Cyprus - Spain 1-3 (0-3)

/Pileas 75 - Yamal 5, Oyarzabal 22, Joselu 28/

Georgia - Scotland 2-2 (1-0)

/Kvaratskhelia 15, 56 - McTominay 49, Shankland 90+2/

Azerbaijan - Sweden 3-0 (2-0)

/Mahmudov 3, 89, Dadashov 6/

Bulgaria - Hungary 2-2 (1-1)

/Delev 24, Despodov 79 pen - Adam 10, Petkov 90+7 og/

Slovakia - Iceland 4-2 (2-1)

/Kucka 30, Duda 36 pen, Haraslin 47, 55 - Oskarsson 17, Gudjohnsen 74/

Montenegro - Lithuania 2-0 (1-0)

/Kuc 3, Jovetic 48/

Luxembourg - B&H 3-0 (2-0)

/Olesen 6, Rodrigues 30, Martins Pereira 56/

Liechtenstein - Portugal 0-2 (0-0)

/Ronaldo 47, Cancelo 57/