“There is no excuse for leaning back and just missing the goal, just testing the goalkeeper because this is a top player, you can not get around it.
Felix, when he came in – that guy is a scammer! He’s a scammer! Your country needs you. He comes in – hit the target!
“100 million pounds ?! If I were Ronaldo I would follow him in the locker room. Shocking!”
Okay, so Roy Keane is not the biggest Joao Felix fan in the world. Honestly, it would have been a huge shock if Manchester United and the Ireland legend had come out after Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Belgium on Sunday night and produced something other than some inflammatory, half-baked walks.
£ 100 million! Scammers! Outrageous! Congratulations if you had any of these quips on your Roy Keane Bingo cards you will win a big fluffy teddy bear.
In reality, the Atletico Madrid kid got a pretty tough hand when he was called off the bench when Portugal chased an equalizer against the Red Devils. The 21-year-old struggled towards the end of the club season 2020/21 and suffered various injuries and was dropped from Atleti’s start XI when they won La Liga for the first time since 2013/14.
He was an unused substitute against Hungary and France and missed the defeat against Germany with a muscular problem. With all these fitness issues, it was a huge demand from manager Fernando Santos to be thrown into the mix with Selecao who needed a goal to stay alive in Euro 2020.
Joao Felix receives Toby Alderweireld / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Felix did about as well as you would expect him to do with his second half. The most effective of Portugal’s substitutes, who included midfielder Bruno Fernandes and striker Andre Silva, the former Benfica star used the ball well and was good in the air.
Five minutes after replacing Bernardo Silva, he had already had more shots on goal than the anonymous Manchester City winger. He was positive in the future and connected well with his teammates in a side that often saw the lack of a certain style of play in addition to “give the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo”.
And yet they had their chances to get back to the game. Raphael Guerreiro hit the base of the post, Ronaldo and Diogo Jota were wasted with their combined six efforts – only one of which was on goal – and Ruben Dias had a nod saved by Thibaut Courtois.
There are brighter days ahead for Felix / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images
With some real match sharpness, Felix may have hit the target instead of pulling, but Portugal’s failure at Euro 2020 was not down to it. It was due to a confused attitude and starting XI filled with top class players who did not go to. And Pepe, who is still sitting on his head for every person he sees and laughs while getting a booking.
Felix has plenty of international tournaments for Portugal ahead of him and at the end of his career he will surely not only be remembered for his appearance at Euro 2020 and a wasted Roy Keane line. He’s better than that.
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