Portugal
coach Fernando Santos has thus far been successful in resisting the urge to
start with Renato
Sanches at Euro 2016 but he might need a rethink after the
teenager stole the show against Croatia,
lifting his side from the doldrums and
inspiring them to qualify for the quarter finals.
He played a vital role in prolonging his
nation's stay in France after being introduced from the bench
against Croatia,
there are much bigger stars on this Portugal team - not least captain Cristiano
Ronaldo - but the 18-year-old offered a glimpse of the future with his starring
role in knocking
Croatia out. Santos has taken plenty of criticism over the
conservatism of his football so far in France
but he must be applauded for his decision
to include Sanches in his squad for this tournament.
It was Sanches who broke from a Croatia attack late in the
second half of extra time after Ivan Perisic
hit the post with a header. No
Croat had the legs to catch him as he charged through the midfield. His
inch-perfect pass to Nani allowed the Fenerbahce forward to cross to Cristiano
on the opposite side of
the area. The only surprise was that the skipper didn't
score, being denied as he was by Subasic.
There, however, was the
resurrected Quaresma to stoop and head Portugal into the last eight. It would
have been impossible without the energy and skill of Sanches.
The
youngster swapped shirts with Luka Modric after the game, hinting perhaps that
he admires the
Real Madrid maestro, but there was nothing inferior about the
young man's display in Lens. He will
be overlooked no more and surely must
replace Andre Gomes for the quarter final against Poland
later this week after
this man-of-the-match display.
There is an admirable fearlessness in the football of Renato sanches. This is is a player who only
made his senior club debut for benfica back in November but has since risen like a rocket. He is soon
to join Bayern Munich this summer for an initial fee of £35 million at the personal behest of
incoming coach Carlo Ancelotti, who sees him as a Bayern mainstay in the seasons ahead. He will
be that for Portugal too now.
Also read: Top 10 All-time Greatest Records in Copa America.
There is an admirable fearlessness in the football of Renato sanches. This is is a player who only
made his senior club debut for benfica back in November but has since risen like a rocket. He is soon
to join Bayern Munich this summer for an initial fee of £35 million at the personal behest of
incoming coach Carlo Ancelotti, who sees him as a Bayern mainstay in the seasons ahead. He will
be that for Portugal too now.
Also read: Top 10 All-time Greatest Records in Copa America.
he's fast
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