Portugal vs Spain: 5 Talking Points, World Cup 2018

#2 Portugal set up to play effective counter-attacking football

Portugal counter-attacked in the first half

Portugal coach Fernando Santos knew very well that there was no way he was going to get his team to dominate possession against some of the most gifted players on the ball. And so, he set them up in the traditional 4-4-2 with Ronaldo and Goncalo Guedes tasked with leading the line.

Spain ultimately dominated possession. Even without Thiago Alcantara in midfield, Spain had 68% of the ball in the first half alone.

However, as Spain pushed further up the field, they left themselves more vulnerable on the counter-attack. And had Portugal been more clinical, they could have scored one or two goals more in the first half when Spain were desperately trying to stay in the game.

Ronaldo himself was the key player on the counter and he was always looking to pass to find a man in a better position. Had Silva kept his cool and taken a shot first time instead of taking a touch, Portugal would have had Spain on the mat.

But what Portugal failed to do was carry that same intensity into the second half.