Happy to see Santos has dropped Fernandes today again. Trying to accommodate him reshapes the team and they tend to suffer defensively. He’s presence makes them play two holding midfielders and since the wingers don’t help their fullbacks, their opponent’s fullbacks have the freedom to go on and off around the edges.

If Portugal holding midfielders tries to come to the wings, the opponents returns and try going in thru the midfield, making them stretch too much.
This 3-man midfield is the best for them and it guilds the team since Ronaldo and Bernardo doesn’t drop back to help the fullbacks cover up when the overlap.