PORTUGAL battered Israel 4-0 in their final Euro 2020 warm up before defending their title from next week.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Man City’s Joao Cancelo and a Bruno Fernandes double completed Portugal’s preparations before opening up against Hungary next Tuesday.
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THAT’S ALL FOR TONIGHT
Portugal steamroll their way to victory in their final warm-up game ahead of Euro 2020, brushing Israel aside 4-0.
They face Hungary next in the first round of clashes in Group F on Tuesday, with kick-off at 5pm.
The Hungarians have the home advantage, so Portugal will have to dig deep.
But if their performance tonight is anything to go by, they could be a real force to be reckoned with at this tournament.
Goodbye for now.
KICK-OFF APPROACHING…
The teams are out for the anthems.
Portugal are in their iconic red shirt and green shorts while Israel sport a white shirt with light blue shorts.
Moments to go until kick-off and both sides look really up for this friendly contest.
Credit: EPA PORTUGAL 4-0 ISRAEL
FULL TIME.
After Hungary’s 0-0 draw with Ireland yesterday and a narrow 1-0 victory over Cyprus last week, the momentum going into Tuesday’s clash will be with Portugal.
After such an impressive display, confidence will be high and Portugal will believe that they can get their campaign off to a winning start against the Group F underdogs.
Having said that, Israel managed to create a couple of chances tonight and frustrated Portugal’s attack for the best part of 40 minutes before the breakthrough.
If Hungary can remain defensively solid, can they use their home advantage to catch Portugal out? Predict what YOU think the score will be below…
PORTUGAL 4-0 ISRAEL
The question on everyone’s lips after that game will be – will Portugal go all the way again at Euro 2020?
HAVE YOUR SAY
PORTUGAL 4-0 ISRAEL
FULL TIME.
A dominant display from the reigning European Champions who’ve shown the rest of Europe that they won’t be giving up their crown lightly.
Two goals, an assist and a Man of the Match performance from Bruno Fernandes feels like par for the course after the season he’s had at Manchester United.
Credit: Reuters Cristiano Ronaldo got in on the action with a goal at the end of the first half and a delicious curling effort from Joao Cancelo sealed the win for Fernando Santos’ men.
The Portugal manager will be delighted with the performance from his team tonight.
He’ll be particularly happy not to have any fresh injury concerns to worry about before the game against Hungary on Tuesday.
Despite their best efforts and some promising play at times, Israel were ultimately outclassed by a fearsome looking Portugal side.
Ruttensteiner’s men can nevertheless hold their heads high as they put in a stoic defensive first-half display before they were dismantled by a predatory Portugal.
Credit: EPA PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT’S THE FULL TIME WHISTLE.
PORTUGAL 4-0 ISRAEL
Credit: Reuters GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
ANOTHER FOR BRUNO FERNANDES AND OH IT’S AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER.
WHAT. A. GOAL.
PORTUGAL 4-0 ISRAEL
PORTUGAL 3-0 ISRAEL
SUBSTITUTIONS
87. Israel make another round of subs but with only a few minutes to go and likely not much injury time, it’s likely far too late for them to make any kind of impact.
Israel can hold their heads high though.
They’ve put in a valiant display against a lethal looking Portugal who against a lesser side, may have got 7 or 8 goals.
It’s Eli Dasa and Neta Lavi off, with Aviel Zargari and Yonas Malede replacing them.
PORTUGAL 3-0 ISRAEL
86. Joao Cancelo showed his class there by bending the ball right into the bottom corner with his left foot.
A really impressive finish to cap off what’s been an excellent display from the Man City right-back.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!
PORTUGAL 3-0 ISRAEL
85. JOAO CANCELO CURLS AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY INTO THE BOTTOM CORNER FROM JUST INSIDE THE BOX.
A BEAUUUUTTTTTY.
Credit: EPA PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
82. Guedes is trying very hard to impress his manager from the right-wing but it’s not really happening for him and he’s given the ball a way a few times.
The sting has been taken out of the game slightly and the substitutes are noticeably less deadly in attack for Portugal than the withdrawn Ronaldo, Jota and Silva.
Israel may look to use this as an opportunity to nab a goal against the run of play…
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
79. CHANCE! Zahavi comes close again and meets a cross from the right hand side at the near post, nicking the ball ever so slightly wide.
Israel get a corner, though it didn’t look to come off Silva…
Unfortunately for Israel, the corner comes to nothing and Portugal look to build from the back.
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
75. Portugal have had 19 attempts on goal, with 8 on target. Marciano has had a solid night in goal for Israel. Without him, it could be a cricket scoreline.
Israel have had a mere 3 shots and have had none on target, but will be encouraged by some decent patterns of play against a world-class side playing with real confidence.
Credit: AFP PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
SUBSTITUTION
70. Cristiano Ronaldo is withdrawn for Sporting Lisbon’s young midfield maestro Pedro Goncalves.
Portugal fans will be pleased to see him coming off unscathed and will hope he can impose himself on yet another major tournament this summer.
Euro 2020 will be his ninth. NINTH.
Goncalo Guedes and Renato Sanches also come on for Bernardo Silva and William Carvalho.
Credit: AP PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
67. Joao Moutinho earns his 131st cap for Portugal.
Alongside Pepe’s 114 caps and Cristiano Ronaldo’s 174 caps, it would be fair to say there’s a lot of experience in this Portugal side.
Eran Zahavi has the most caps of any Israel player on the field, with 63 caps, following the withdrawal of their experienced captain Bibras Natkho, who has 77.
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
SUBSTITUTIONS
63. Israel bring on Osama Khalaila and Mohammed Abu Fani for Gadi Kinda and the captain Bibras Natcho.
Ruttensteiner will be hoping they can at least pull one back before the final whistle to have something to show for all of their hard work.
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
SUBSTITUTIONS
62. Portugal are bringing on Joao Moutinho and Danilo Pereira for Ruben Neves and Ruben Dias.
Despite being a more natural holding midfielder, it would appear that Pereira will slot in at centre-back alongside Pepe.
Joao Moutinho on for his club-mate Neves is a more straightforward direct swap.
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
60. CHANCE! Bernardo Silva is clean through and tries to chip the keeper from six yards out.
Marciano again makes a good save and Bruno Fernandes then misses the rebound.
Credit: Reuters PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
56. CHANCE! By far the most encouraging pattern of play from Israel so far as Zahavi has a shot after taking a touch, when he probably should have hit it first time.
Had that been 2-1, things might have got interesting, but after that warning shot you would imagine that Portugal will now be a bit more mindful of the Israel press.
Better from Israel, who will hope to build on that pattern of play.
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
54. Carvalho blasts it well over the bar from 25 yards out. A poor effort.
Israel are playing out from the back which feels like they’re playing straight into Portugal’s hands.
Portugal are pressing very high up the pitch and it’s a bit nervy at times. One misplaced pass and it’s 3-0…
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
50. BOOKING & OFFSIDE! Some confusion as Cancelo puts a great ball into the box from a free kick.
Bruno Fernandes meets it at the back post and puts in the back of the net but it doesn’t count.
Cristiano Ronaldo was a good five yards offside.
Orel Dgani was booked for Israel for giving away the foul.
Credit: AFP
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
48. Portugal goalkeeper Rui Silva of Granada makes his international debut tonight and so far hasn’t put a foot wrong.
Having said that, he really hasn’t had much to do…
It will likely be Lyon shot-stopper Antony Lopes or Wolves’ experienced keeper Rui Patricio that starts against Hungary.
But tonight is still an excellent opportunity for Silva to show what he can do and showcase the depth in options Portugal have between the sticks.
Credit: EPA PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!
THE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
SUBSTITUTIONS
The second half is about to begin and it looks like Joel Abu Hanna is coming on for Israel with Sun Menachem making way.
Portugal’s number 9 Andre Silva of Eintracht Frankfurt is on for Diogo Jota, suggesting that Ronaldo will head out wide and he’ll become the focal point of the Portuguese attack.
PORTUGAL 2-0 ISRAEL
HALF TIME.
Israel will feel like they’ve just been slapped round the face after two quickfire goals from Portugal.
They defended valiantly for 40 minutes but Portugal were very dominant throughout and it was only really a matter of time before they broke the deadlock.
They did so in emphatic fashion after a goal and an assist from Bruno Fernandes and an almost routine international goal for the ever-ruthless Cristiano Ronaldo.
Is this game over now or could there still be an unwanted plot twist for Fernando Santos’ men?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
