Portugal, the 2016 champions, continued their perfect start and achieved the full mark with their eighth consecutive victory when they beat hosts Bosnia 5-0, including a double for veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo, on Monday, in Zenica in the eighth round of Group J competitions for the European Cup qualifiers (Euro 2024) scheduled for finals in Germany next summer.
The Saudi Al Nasr striker scored his brace in the fifth and 20th minutes, raising his score to 9 goals in the qualifiers, and strengthening his position in second place on the scorers list, one goal behind the leaders Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku.
Ronaldo, who scored a brace on Friday when Portugal beat Slovakia 3-2 and booked the final card, raised his tally of goals with his country to 127 in 203 international matches and became the first European player to score 9 international goals after the age of 38.
Ronaldo takes his tally to 126 international goals #رونالدو #تصفيات_يورو2024 #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/oWMfy8ZRFJ
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 16, 2023
Bruno Fernandes (25), Joao Cancelo (32) and Joao Felix (41) took turns scoring the other three goals.
Portugal, runners-up of the 2004 edition at home, which reached the finals for the eighth time in its history, strengthened its position in the lead with 24 points, 8 points ahead of its direct chase Slovakia, which took a big step towards reaching the finals with a precious victory over host Luxembourg surprise qualifiers 1-0 scored by David Doris (77).
Ronaldo 127 🥅⚽️ #Ronaldo ⏫ #تصفيات_يورو2024 #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/fr6413l3Qi
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 16, 2023
Slovakia widened the gap to 5 points between them and Luxembourg two rounds before the end of the qualifiers.
Luxembourg's balance froze at 11 points in third place, a point ahead of Iceland, which took advantage of Bosnia's loss and snatched fourth place with a big victory over Liechtenstein with a clean quadruple scored by Gylfi Sigurdsson (22 from the penalty spot and 49), Alfred Finnbogasson (44) and Hakun Arnar Haraldsson (63).
Sandro Weser missed a penalty for Liechtenstein (45+3).
Bosnia, who were frozen at 9 points and dropped to fourth place, lost their hopes of direct qualification and their chances remain dependent on the play-offs as they topped their group in the second tier of the UEFA Nations League this year.
Portugal's Spanish coach Roberto Martinez made 4 changes to the squad that beat Slovakia. Pushing Sporting defender Gonçalo Inácio in place of traditional rivals Benfica defender Antonio Silva, and French Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Danilo Pereira in place of Fulham midfielder Ballinia.
Barcelona midfielder on loan from Atletico Madrid also included Joao Felix in place of PSG striker Gonçalo Ramouch, and Saudi Al Nasr midfielder Ottavio replaced Manchester City winger Bernardo Silva.