Portugal

Portugal are developing a habit of making life difficult for themselves, having blown automatic qualification for Qatar 2022 by conceding a 90th-minute goal in a 2-1 defeat against Serbia in Lisbon last November. And the 2016 European champions face ...

A flick to Fernandes instigated the move for Portugal's second goal, which culminated with Otavio crossing for Jota to head in at the far post on 42 minutes. Ronaldo, who has struggled at times in a central role at United this season, highlighted another part of his game by dropping deeper than usual and acting as a link between the lines. Joao Moutinho performed exceptionally in the absence of Wolverhampton Wanderers teammate Neves, anchoring what was largely a one-man midfield as Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes made up a five-man swarm of attacking players with Ronaldo, Jota and Otavio. But they held on, calmed their nerves with the third goal and are now potentially just 90 minutes away from a World Cup that Ronaldo has previously said would mark the end of his international career. Not because they have Ronaldo, but because Portugal now have such a depth of talent that they were able to overcome Turkey despite being without several key players. Portugal made it through to their date with World Cup destiny without Ronaldo adding to his world-record tally of 115 international goals.