Portugal took a huge step towards the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after a nail-biting 0-0 draw against Scotland on Tuesday night! ⚽✨
Despite dominating possession, the Portuguese squad couldn't find the back of the net. Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, had the crowd on the edge of their seats but missed a couple of golden opportunities. Unmarked in the box early in the second half, he sent a diving header over the bar, and later, an ambitious bicycle kick sailed wide, earning ironic cheers from Scotland's passionate Tartan Army. 😲🙈
Coach Roberto Martinez admitted his team was missing \"a bit of magic in the area\" and lacked freshness in the final third. \"We had a lot of desire, we worked very well without the ball,\" the Spanish coach shared. \"But we showed we can keep a clean sheet and stay on top.\"
The draw keeps Portugal atop Group A1 with 10 points, three ahead of Croatia, who played out an epic 3-3 battle with Poland. Scotland remains at the bottom with just one point. With the top two teams advancing to the last eight, Portugal is inching closer to the quarterfinals but knows there's still work to be done! 🏆
Scotland, meanwhile, showed they can't be underestimated. Early in the game, Scott McTominay narrowly missed with a header, and goalkeeper Craig Gordon made some heroic saves in the dying minutes to deny Portugal. 💪👏
As the Nations League heats up, fans are in for more exciting clashes. Will Portugal find their scoring touch and secure their spot? Stay tuned! 🔥⚽
Reference(s):
Portugal close in on Nations League quarterfinals with Scotland draw
cgtn.com
