Cristiano Ronaldo is a Ferrari and Nelson Semedo… a Minardi

Whilst Portugal were able to take a victory from their Euro 2020 opener against Hungary, the deficiencies within their squad were highlighted in Saturday’s 4-2 defeat to Germany, with the vast difference in quality between Cristiano Ronaldo and Nelson Semedo, for example, being compared to those between a Ferrari and a Minardi.

Whilst Minardi might be a name only synonymous to Formula 1 fans of a certain vintage, the comparison is clear, Ronaldo is the upper tier model, the true show-stealer, whilst Semedo is functional but always has the potential to lose gears on the motorway.

Ronaldo is the vehicle of speed and style. He never tires of breaking records and improving his own standing.

His opening goal against Germany saw him move to within two goals of Ali Daei’s international record, whilst he has already become the first player to score at three consecutive European Championships.

It was his movement and desire for his goal which impressed most, as he ran from his own penalty area to the German goal en route to scoring in under 13 seconds.

For the first time, a team scored two own goals in a single European Championship match. First it was Ruben Dias and then Raphael Guerreiro, with both goals putting Germany in front just before half-time.

It’s impossible to explain Fernando Santos’ rationale in picking Danilo Pereira and William Carvalho as a double-pivot, with both players lacking serious technical skills in the middle of midfield.

This selection decision proved fatal to Portuguese hopes with the polar opposite group of Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan and Joshua Kimmich keeping the ball for fun all afternoon.

Portugal simply couldn’t retain possession at all, which invited huge pressure on a defence that showed its soft underbelly.

It’s looking more and more suspect just how both Barcelona and then Wolves were convinced to purchase Nelson Semedo.

He is a right-back who doesn’t really know how to defend and his unwanted highlight reel of being embarrassed by attackers is becoming a bit too long.

First it was Alphonso Davies, then Vinicius Jr and now Robin Gosens has added his name to a list of players that will keep the former Benfica youth product awake at night.

Semedo either has to improve a lot or Fernando Santos needs a replacement before the knockout stage, because he will continue to cost his team, that’s inevitable.