Roberto Martinez labelled Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Denmark within the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final as their “worst efficiency in two years”.

Portugal struggled within the ultimate third at Parken and have a slender deficit to overturn on Sunday due to Rasmus Hojlund’s late purpose.

Christian Eriksen additionally missed a penalty within the first half as Portugal confronted 23 pictures, 9 of which have been on the right track as Diogo Costa recovered from a nervy begin to preserve his aspect within the tie.

The guests, by comparability, managed simply eight makes an attempt price 0.51 anticipated objectives (xG), with Kasper Schmeichel solely examined twice.

“It was our worst efficiency within the final two years,” Martinez stated. “In the course of the recreation we didn’t do what we needed to do to play with the ambiance and the aggressiveness that Denmark have.

“We want video games like that. There was a five-month break, and we didn’t come out with the depth we wanted.

“Denmark’s stress was very efficient. It might have been very simple to play lengthy balls and never attempt to enhance as a staff. We suffered at occasions and Diogo Costa gave us a chance to enter the second leg with confidence.”

Portugal dominated possession towards Denmark and got here out on prime in additional of their duels, profitable 34 to their hosts’ 29.

Whereas they noticed plenty of the ball, they have been sloppy with it, dropping possession a mixed 103 occasions as a staff, with six gamers giving it away 10 or extra occasions.

Bruno Fernandes was unable to offer an attacking spark for Portugal and famous that this end result serves as a lesson about what they should enhance earlier than the second leg on Sunday.

“We have now a really skilled and in addition very younger staff on the identical time,” he stated.

“We’re at all times conscious of what we’re able to doing. It’s not in any respect worrying, however it’s a lesson in what we’ve got to do in a different way within the subsequent recreation.

“I feel it was a little bit of a scarcity of aggression. We didn’t benefit from the house that Denmark left us in behind. As a result of we need to have the ball, we need to play, typically we find yourself making the error of enjoying an excessive amount of and never making the most of the pace of Pedro Neto and Rafael Leao, one on one, up entrance.”