Despite holding overwhelming possession, Portugal demonstrated unexpected defensive vulnerabilities and physical challenges in a recent match against Hungary, according to detailed performance statistics.
The Portuguese side registered a concerning 14 losses of possession in its own defensive third during the game. This figure marks a significant increase from their previous maximum of three such losses in any other match during the current qualification phase.
Hungary effectively exploited these openings, managing 17 shots against Portugal, which surpasses their own highest tally of 13 in previous qualification fixtures. The Hungarian team also dominated individual contests, winning 54 duels compared to Portugal’s 41.
Portugal’s physical struggles extended to offensive aerial duels, where they secured only three victories out of 10 attempts. This lack of aerial dominance was partly attributed to Hungary’s robust defensive physicality.
Portugal maintained 81% overall possession throughout the match, including 80.6% in the offensive third, yet these figures did not translate into a commanding performance, particularly in crucial defensive and physical metrics.