Chapter 890: The European Championship Begins
With the Champions League final concluded, the 2020–2021 club season officially came to an end. Players began to disperse on holiday.
However, for international players, rest would have to wait. Two major continental tournaments—the Copa América and the postponed European Championship—were scheduled for June and July.
According to the group-stage draw from December 2019, Portugal, seeded in Pot 1, were placed in Group C alongside the Netherlands, Austria, and North Macedonia. Their first group match would kick off on June 13 at 9 p.m. (Central European Time) at Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff Arena against hosts the Netherlands.
Before the group stage, Portugal arranged two warm-up friendlies: away to Spain on June 4 and at home against Israel on June 7.
The Spain match proved uneventful—a dull 0–0 draw. Both sides failed to score, with Pablo Sarabia missing a golden chance and Álvaro Morata striking the crossbar. Bruno Fernandes didn't start that game; it came just days after the Champions League final.
Against Israel, however, he returned to the lineup. Bruno opened the scoring, then assisted Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal's second. In the second half, João Cancelo and Bruno added goals, sealing a 4–0 win.
Portugal's preparations for Euro 2020 were complete.
Shortly after, the team boarded a charter flight to the Netherlands, ready for their upcoming group-stage opener.
...
June 13, evening—Amsterdam, Johan Cruyff Arena.
This European Championship was unique: hosted across twelve countries in thirteen cities, meaning multiple teams enjoyed "home" matches. For Group C, the Netherlands were the home side. Portugal would begin their campaign away.
The Dutch, led by Memphis Depay, fielded a solid squad. Frenkie de Jong and Georginio Wijnaldum manned midfield, but Matthijs de Ligt was absent through injury. Coach Frank de Boer opted for a 5-3-2 formation:
Goalkeeper: Maarten Stekelenburg.
Defenders (right to left): Patrick van Aanholt, Daley Blind, Stefan de Vrij, Jurriën Timber, and Denzel Dumfries.
Midfield: Frenkie de Jong, Wijnaldum, and Marten de Roon.
Forwards: Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst.
Portugal also fielded their strongest eleven:
Goalkeeper: Rui Patrício.
Defenders: Raphaël Guerreiro, Rúben Dias, Pepe, and João Cancelo.
Holding midfielders: Danilo Pereira and William Carvalho.
Attacking midfield: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Diogo Jota.
Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Dutch immediately took advantage of home support, pressing high from kickoff. In the 3rd minute, Wijnaldum threaded a pass through. Depay beat Pepe to the byline before pulling back. William Carvalho was drawn out of position by Wijnaldum, and Danilo Pereira failed to recover. That left Weghorst completely unmarked to blast in from the center.
1–0 to the Netherlands.
...
Conceding inside three minutes stunned Portugal. Bruno could see the gloom spreading—shoulders slumped, heads down.
As midfield leader, he knew he had to lift them.
He jogged quickly toward Danilo Pereira as the Dutch celebrated.
Danilo lowered his head, visibly regretful. "I just—"
"I know," Bruno cut him off, not letting him dwell on it. Mistakes happened—the task was to recover, not to despair.
He simply patted Danilo on the shoulder, nodded toward William Carvalho, who nodded back. Understanding passed silently between them.
"Okay, everyone—it's just one goal. Let's fight back and score more! Come on!" Bruno shouted, clapping his hands loudly.
"Yeah, cheer up!" Ronaldo joined in.
"It's only one goal—we can come back!" said Guerreiro.
"From now on, they're not crossing midfield!" William Carvalho growled.
Bruno raised his clenched fist in response and turned toward the center circle, signaling to the referee to hurry the restart—how long were the Dutch planning to celebrate? It was only one goal.
From the sideline, coach Fernando Santos watched and smiled faintly. He had considered shouting instructions but realized Bruno had already handled it perfectly.
...
Play resumed, and Portugal countered with new energy.
"Bruno collects on the left wing, facing Van Aanholt…forces the dribble…"
"Cuts back—cross into the area…"
"Cleared for a throw-in!"
...
"Guerreiro launches the throw—Ronaldo wins the header and nods it down."
"Jota controls superbly, skips past Van Aanholt, cuts infield…"
"Slides it into the box—Bruno strikes!"
"Portugal's first real shot inside the box! Bruno's effort just misses wide—but this was a fine attack, and Bruno's everywhere up front!"
...
"Portugal pressing again!"
"Bruno drifting to the left once more, taking on Van Aanholt…"
"The Portuguese midfield three are so fluid tonight, constantly interchanging—it's giving the Dutch real trouble!"
"One-on-one! Bruno charges to the byline—Van Aanholt sticks tight!"
"They reach the line… Bruno's nutmeg! Brilliant!"
"He's past Van Aanholt—cuts inside, beats Depay!"
"Bruno goes down in the box! Depay raises both hands—he says no foul!"
"The referee waves play on!"
"Bruno's furious—he's showing his shirt, pointing to his side. Looks like he's saying, 'Look, he pulled it!'"
"Ha! It was so quick the ref may have missed it—replay shows definite contact. Understandable frustration from Bruno."
"Coach Fernando Santos is protesting, while De Boer applauds—this match is turning into a true chess match between two great tacticians."
...
"And again, Bruno on the wing."
"Now both Van Aanholt and Blind close in—Bruno keeps dribbling… slips between them!"
"Magnificent! Bruno wriggles free from the double-team, sends a diagonal cross to the far post!"
"Oh, Bernardo! Just a step too slow! If he'd been faster, that was a goal!"
"Portugal are really knocking on the door now—Bruno especially looks electric, creating danger after danger. But his teammates are wasteful, missing chance after chance."
"Bruno's getting frustrated; despite relentless marking, he's showcasing star quality that the Dutch can't contain. But he needs help from his forwards."
"With better finishing, Portugal should already be level—maybe even ahead."
...
"Bruno's pressured again on the left and forced to pass back."
"The Netherlands pack heavy numbers down their right flank—Blind, normally a center-back, is practically acting as a right-back now. Portugal's pressure, led by Bruno, has pinned Van Aanholt and forced even Frenkie de Jong and Depay to drop deep in defense."
"Cancelo receives, sends it inside to Danilo Pereira."
"Let's see—Portugal building again."
"Bruno cuts inward suddenly, combining through the middle."
"Danilo's forward pass—Bruno lays it off…"
"Beautiful one-two! Danilo strikes from the edge!"
"But the Dutch defense holds tight—blocked by De Vrij, bouncing wide right."
"Portugal regains possession—Bernardo Silva picks it up!"
...
Bernardo controlled, glanced into the box—Ronaldo, Bruno, and Danilo all poised. The biggest threat was obvious: Cristiano Ronaldo in the heart of the penalty area.
Bernardo lifted the ball, curling a cross just over Dumfries toward the center.
Ronaldo positioned himself perfectly, shielding Timber and charging forward.
But just as he prepared to meet it, Stekelenburg burst off his line, diving out with impeccable timing to punch the ball away.
The Dutch keeper couldn't fully claim it, but his intervention denied Portugal's equalizer—at least for the moment.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10