Portugal 0-0 AustriaThe movie-star grin Cristiano Ronaldo had worn throughout the game turned to a grimace after 80 minutes when the Portugal captain smacked a penalty he had just won against Austria’s right-hand post and to safety.
A later headed finish chalked off for offside emphasised how this was not to be his night and this second successive draw for Portugal leaves them with only two points and needing to beat Hungary in Wednesday’s final match.
On an evening when Ronaldo won a record-breaking 128th cap his mission was simple: lead Portugal to a first victory in this second Group F outing to hand them control of their route into the last 16.
Hungary’s late equaliser against Iceland in the earlier game made them leaders of the section with four points, a tally Portugal could match by defeating Marcel Koller’s men before the third and closing match of the phase.
Santos made two changes from the 1-1 draw with Iceland, the nation Ronaldo generously described as having a “small mentality” for their perceived negative approach. Out went Danilo and João Mário and in came William Carvalho and, most interestingly, Ricardo Quaresma.
Questioned in the buildup if Ronaldo, Nani and the 32-year-old could play together, the coach said it was possible, and by the first half’s close the decision was vindicated.
For Austria, who last faced Portugal 21 years ago during qualifying for Euro 96, Aleksandar Dragovic was ruled out by his sending-off in the loss to Hungary. In came Sebastian Prödl in the defender’s place, the striker Marko Janko was dropped for Marcel Sabitzer, and Zlatko Junuzovic’s ankle injury meant a midfield berth for Stefan Ilsanker.
William Carvalho was an early influence for his side. One pass he sprayed out on a left-right diagonal began a move that ended with Nani being given a clear header at Robert Almer. But the man nominally partnering the nomadic Ronaldo in attack spooned it high.
Quaresma was also in the game as soon as Santos would have asked. The winger was chided when refusing to find Ronaldo when he raced down the right, instead pinging a cross towards the area that came to nothing. But the one-time Chelsea loanee would be a factor all the way to the break. As were his side, as the contest’s dominant force.
What Austria did not require, then, was Almer to concede a corner by whacking the ball straight into Martin Hinteregger. Ricardo Carvalho rose highest to its delivery but the header went wide.
Ronaldo had scored at each of his previous three European Championships for a tally of six. He was about to miss a golden chance to register at a fourth finals. This derived from the period’s slickest move. William Carvalho hit Raphaël Guerreiro down the left and he engineered a one-two with Nani before finding Ronaldo. It seemed about to be 1-0 to Portugal and Euros strike No7 for the No7 but the casual side-boot finish missed to Almer’s right.
Portugal were a red torrent Austria could not stop. Nani again became the man who should have punished them when André Gomes swung the ball over from the left but the former Manchester United forward crashed a header against the right post.
As the half neared its end Ronaldo saw the ball bounce at him as he lurked in Austria’s area. The angle caused him to hop then volley, but there was no power in the effort, and Almer collected.
Given their dominance Portugal were actually lucky not to head into the break behind. David Alaba smashed a free-kick past Rui Patrício towards the right corner and only Vieirinha’s sharp intervention prevented a goal.
Austria started the second half in the same vein. Ilsanker punched a hole in midfield, roved through it, and banged in a shot that required a Patrício dive to his left to save.
At this juncture Ronaldo was not in the match enough so there was a case for him dropping deep, collecting the ball there, and driving at Austria. Perhaps, though, this element of his stellar talent is waning, as time starts to march on a player who is 31 and whose on-field clock shows many thousands of miles.
Then came a reminder of the frightening powers Ronaldo possesses. Given only a quarter-sight of the ball he propelled his left foot through it to Almer’s left and the keeper made a fine save. From the subsequent corner Ronaldo now rose high – maybe too high – like a champion pole vaulter sans pole and headed towards Almer, who again thwarted him.
Ronaldo has never scored via a free-kick at these finals and he was again errant with the two he tried. The second was within 30 yards of goal but, like the earlier one, that came from longer range, the ball sailing into the humid Paris air and not worrying Almer.
The result, though, will concern Ronaldo and his team.
Guardian
