EURO friendly report card: Portugal

Results
Friday: Portugal 0-1 Bulgaria (Marcelinho 19)
Anthony Lopes; Vieirinha, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Eliseu (Raphael Guerreiro 81); William Carvalho (Renato Sanches 74), Adrien Silva (Danny 65), João Mário (Danilo Pereira 75), Rafa (Quaresma 65); Nani (Eder 83), Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal dominated in Leiria but fell to defeat when, from a rare Bulgaria attack, debutant Marcelinho evaded Pepe and Vieirinha, giving Anthony Lopes no chance with his low shot. Portugal regrouped yet lacked inspiration, something that goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov had in abundance, even stopping a 66th-minute Cristiano Ronaldo spot kick, just as he did in last season's UEFA Champions League for Ludogorets Razgrad against Real Madrid. Renato Sanches, 18, made his Portugal bow in the 74th minute.

Tuesday: Portugal 2-1 Belgium (Nani 20, Ronaldo 40; Romelu Lukaku 62) 
Rui Patrício; Cedric, Pepe, José Fonte, Raphael Guerreiro; Danilo (Danny 87), Adrien Silva (Renato Sanches 45), André Gomes (William Carvalho), João Mário (Bernardo Silva 45); Nani (Eder 61), Ronaldo (Quaresma 61)

In a game switched from Brussels to Leiria after last week's events in Belgium, Portugal fielded the same mobile attacking system as against Bulgaria, only this time there were goals. Ronaldo hit the bar on 12 minutes, before Nani made the breakthrough. Twenty minutes later Ronaldo, making amends for Friday's penalty failure, found the net with a header that resoundingly beat Thibaut Courtois and although injury-hit Belgium reduced the deficit when substitute Jordan Lukaku set up brother Romelu to register, Portugal held on.

João Mário in action against Bulgaria©AFP/Getty Images

What we learned
1) One of Sporting's driving forces this season, midfielder João Mário is surely en route to the EURO despite playing only 22 minutes in qualification.

2) Adrien Silva ably filled the gap left by João Moutinho's injury, offering Portugal a valuable back-up option.

3) Raphael Guerreiro and Eliseu will give Fábio Coentrão competition for a starting place at left-back.

Questions remain
• A shortage of goalscoring strikers has long been a problem for Portugal; could that lack of options hamper coach Fernando Santos?

• The shortage of out-and-out scorers may encourage Portugal to field a more mobile attack, in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formation. However, would Cristiano Ronaldo be less effective in more central areas?

• Portugal have an abundance of midfield talent, but is there space in Santos's squad for so many star schemers?

Room for improvement
Santos likes to field fast, skilful players in attack regardless of the opposition, and experimented by using both two and three up front in the March friendlies. Against Belgium it worked well, with a versatile midfield supporting the attack and providing defensive cover; against Bulgaria – nominally a weaker side – Portugal were too cautious and did not try a more direct approach until late in the game. The Portuguese can struggle against teams that sit deep, so Santos may require the option of a more traditional No9. 

EURO certainties (if fit)
Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício (Sporting), Anthony Lopes (Lyon)

Defenders: Ricardo Carvalho (Monaco), Pepe (Real Madrid), Fábio Coentrão (Monaco), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg), Cedric Soares (Southampton), Eliseu (Benfica)

Midfielders: João Moutinho (Monaco), Danny (Zenit), Danilo (Porto), William Carvalho (Sporting), João Mário (Sporting)

Forwards: Nani (Fenerbahçe), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (Lille)

Media view
António Tadeia, journalist and television pundit
"Coach Santos wants a completely mobile attack, a model that will need some work. At the same time, this new model represents a change in identity for a team that usually plays a bit further back – but perhaps sensing that he will face defensive opponents, Santos seems committed to putting more players in the attack."