Euro 2024: Portuguese media reacts to Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes' performance after Portugal 3-0 Turkey
Portuguese media reacted to midfielder Bruno Fernandes' performance in A Selecao's 3-0 win over Turkiye in their EURO 2024 clash. The midfielder scored the final goal of the game, placing the ball into an open net after receiving a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, it wasn't just the goal that placed him head over shoulders above other players on the pitch. The Manchester United midfielder controlled the proceedings behind the striker, regularly seeking out passes into the final third. He also showed his quality off the ball, winning duels and actively participating in nearly every passage of play.
His performance against Turkiye was well received by the Portugal media, who had only words of praise for him. Mais Futebol placed the focus on Fernandes' defensive attributes, stating (via United In Focus):
"Without giving it much away, the midfielder played a very important role in keeping an eye on Çalhanoglu. Martínez gave him the task of limiting the influential Inter Milan player and the Maiato did it perfectly..."
Zap focused on his game in the middle and final third, adding:
"Nice game from the midfielder, especially in the second half. He scored again (the 3-0), was, with Ronaldo, the most shot, with four shots, made six progressive passes, two super progressive dribbles and won eight of 13 individual duels."
Observador was more reserved about the Manchester United playmaker's role in the Turkiye clash, noting:
"...Bruno, who likes to throw motorbikes, enjoys the game more broken, so he can put in breakaway passes and shoot from the edge of the area. He tried all that, but nothing came of it particularly well – until finally, in the 55th minute, he was unmarked at the right time to receive Ronaldo’s assist and score."
Bruno Fernandes will hope he can build on this performance when they face Georgia on June 26. They have already secured a seat in the EURO 2024 knockout stages, but the Red Devils midfielder will want to retain his form.
Manchester United goalkeeper slammed by club legend after Euro 2024 mishap
While one Manchester United player had an impressive game at Euro 2024, another had an outing to forget in the same match. Red Devils and Turkiye goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was slammed by club legend Gary Neville after he conceded three goals against Portugal.
One of those goals, however, was a howler of an own goal from Samet Akaydir. Poor communication between the defender and his goalkeeper saw the ball passed straight into the net, leading to Neville's criticism of Bayindir. He told ITV (via Stretty News):
“The defender doesn’t look where the goalkeeper is and I have to say, when a goalkeeper converges when there’s not a lot of space between the ball and the defender, it very rarely ends well. It’s a poor cocktail and I have to say, the goalkeeper really should stay where he is.”
Bayindir, who has played as second fiddle to Andre Onana at Manchester United will hope to improve his performance in Turkiye's next Euro 2024 game against Czechia.