Portugal 1-0 Italy: Hits and Flops, UEFA Nations League 2018/19

Portugal 1-0 Italy: Hits and Flops
Portugal 1-0 Italy: Hits and Flops

#3 Hit: Joao Cancelo

Cancelo was peerless down the right flank
Cancelo was peerless down the right flank

Another bright Portuguese youngster, Cancelo has found it difficult to translate his club heroics with the national side. He did impress during the initial stages of the World Cup qualifiers but a glaring lack of consistency cost him a place at the tournament proper. The Juventus fullback has also been recalled for the Nations League and took no time to remind everyone about his capabilities.

Cancelo was an immense threat down the right, flailing up and down the flank relentlessly. He connected well with the attack and made sure his attacking penchant doesn't leave space at the back for anyone to run into. Italy's Giacomo Bonaventura in particular was given a hard time. Both have tussled on multiple occasions in the Serie A, so there was no love lost here too. But Cancelo simply kept him at an arm's length by close man-marking and challenging on the ball.

An all-around performance from the 24-year old.

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