Jose Mourinho has offered a damning assessment of Portugal following their quarter-final exit from the 2024 UEFA European Championship.
A Selecao, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, made it to the quarter-final stage of the continental competition before being knocked out by France, losing to the 2018 FIFA World Cup winners in a penalty shootout.
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Speaking about his country's journey through the tournament, the former Real Madrid boss said that he, along with the nation's supporters, had higher expectations of their side.
"Portugal wasn't fantastic, despite reaching the quarter-finals. We expected more," Mourinho told Sport TV.
"I was at the National Stadium for the Portugal-Croatia match and it didn't smell good. I didn't get a great feeling.
"During the tournament, we were the team that was making progress, but we weren't convincing.
"Often, when the moment of truth comes, these teams are stronger. This wasn't the end of Portugal, there wasn't any improvement in the team."
While the team may have not impressed the seasoned coach, he expressed a sense of optimism toward the future.
"But it's a young team, apart from the two veterans [Ronaldo and Pepe], a team with years ahead of them. The World Cup is just around the corner," the 61-year-old said.
The Fenerbahce manager also revealed the team that impressed him most during the tournament.
"Spain is the biggest surprise for me, in the way the team has evolved, they are practically a new team," he added.
"For me, at the moment, they are the team that plays the best and the one that has played the best throughout the tournament."
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