Portugal vs Czechia: Why Fernandes will be Portugal's MVP at Euro 2024

 

All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo when Portugal make their Euro 2024 bow against Czechia on Tuesday. International football’s all-time leading scorer will be looking to add to his extraordinary 130-goal tally at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. 

 

But while Ronaldo is still the most famous member of Portugal's star-studded squad, he is no longer his country's most important player. That honour goes to Bruno Fernandes, who will be central to Portugal's efforts to win a second European Championship this summer.  

 

Fernandes was 21 when Portugal triumphed at this tournament eight years ago. He was never really a contender for the squad that summer, with his senior debut only arriving in November 2017 after he had moved to Sporting CP.  

 

Three years ago at the delayed Euro 2020, we did not see the best of Fernandes. Coming off the back of a brilliant first full season at Manchester United in which he scored 28 goals in 58 games, Fernandes was underwhelming in the group phase before being dropped for the 1-0 defeat by Belgium in the round of 16. 

 

 

The attacking midfielder was much better at the World Cup 18 months ago, scoring two goals and providing a joint-high three assists. But Portugal’s exit at the hands of Morocco in the quarter-finals means Fernandes will feel he has plenty of unfinished business at international level. 

 

The Manchester United man has been Portugal’s standout performer in the Roberto Martinez era. The Spaniard is a positive, forward-thinking coach, unlike his cautious, pragmatic predecessor Fernando Santos. Martinez has thrown off the shackles and Fernandes has responded with his best ever spell for the national team. 

 

Portugal were the strongest side across qualification for Euro 2024. They were the only team to amass maximum points, while they also scored more goals and conceded fewer than anyone else. 

 

Fernandes was superb throughout. He had a direct hand in 13 goals (more than 30 entire teams, including a few that ultimately qualified), scoring six and setting up seven more. Granted, the opposition was not the strongest: Portugal faced Slovakia, Luxembourg, Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Liechtenstein. But you can only beat what is in front of you and Portugal, led by Fernandes, did that with aplomb. 

 

"There are many adjectives you could use to describe him," Martinez said of Portugal’s No.8. "Bruno Fernandes plays in many positions. He doesn’t just play in a single system. He can be the man starting the move, or he can be on the end of it.  

 

"When you have exceptional technical quality, and you’re a player with his personality and desire, it makes him vital. That’s the reason he’s a modern playmaker." 

 

His versatiliy will be useful this summer. Fernandes played on the right side of a front three under Santos at the last World Cup and he could fill that role if required.  

 

More likely, though, is that the Manchester United captain will be part of a midfield three alongside Joao Palhina and Vitinha. The former will hold the fort in front of the back four, with Fernandes and Vitinha given the license to get between the lines and create. No one made more key passes per game than Fernandes (3.3) in the Premier League in 2023/24. 

 

Ahead of kick-off on Tuesday, the television cameras will linger on Ronaldo rather than Fernandes. But this could be the tournament where the passing of the baton is finally completed.

Portugal vs Czechia: Why Fernandes will be Portugal's MVP at Euro 2024