Uefa Nations League

England were held to a 0-0 draw by Italy at Molineux on Saturday, leaving them with two points after their first three Nations League games.

Of similar concern is the fact the Three Lions have not scored a single goal from open play in those matches, with their solitary strike coming from the penalty spot in the midweek 1-1 draw with Germany.

Manager Southgate has been criticised for perceived cautious tactics, which many consider to be the root of the issue.

But Maguire is not convinced, suggesting they are not doing anything different to when they reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals or the Euro 2020 final.

"[Southgate's] record over the last four years speaks for itself," Maguire told BBC Radio 5 Live. "When you play at the highest level there's pressure and scrutiny and criticism, and every game that you don't win there will always be criticism [afterwards].

"The last few games we haven't scored enough goals, but we got to a World Cup semi-final playing this way and we were a penalty shoot-out away from winning the Euros in our home country, which would've been one of the greatest moments this country has ever seen."

Maguire then urged England fans to get behind the team, with the World Cup less than six months away.

"Let the football do the talking. Everyone get behind us for the World Cup and keep pushing us, we're doing our best to improve," he continued.

"We've shown there's still areas to improve and if we want to lift the World Cup we have to strive to improve.

"Every day that we're together we have to aim for that because we want to set high standards and the next [aim] is to lift the trophy."

England are next in action at home to Hungary on Tuesday as they look to finally get their first Nations League win of the year and get off foot of the Group A3 table.

Greenwood is in line to make his England bow after being called up by Gareth Southgate for the first time for Nations League fixtures against Iceland and Denmark.

The 18-year-old's inclusion comes after a stunning season at Old Trafford, where he scored 17 goals across all competitions for United in 2019-20.

And Greenwood is dreaming big as England prepare for Saturday's clash away to Iceland.

"Obviously any young football player would want to break records," Greenwood said. "And if you didn't, there's something wrong.

"It's always nice to have visions and goals you set in your football career and that goes for virtually any England forward.

"Just go out there and do your best and break records and just be remembered forever, really."

"The games have come so quick and you have to be focused 100 per cent at all times," he said. "My whole family was excited for me and it's a dream come true.

"It's happened quick. You can be called on at any time and I got called in for some Europa League games early in the season and took my chances and took every game as it came and just played my football."

Greenwood also thanked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for his trust, especially after the United manager turned to the teenager as the Red Devils completed a stunning comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the 2018-19 Champions League.

"I took a lot of belief from that, a lot of confidence to say that the manager has got the confidence in me to put me on in that state of the game," Greenwood added.

"I'm just glad he did because it's helped my career and things are more calm now. I am used to it now because the pressure was high in that game. Not many people can say they made their debut in such a special game.

"Ole says to all the young players coming up: 'Go out there with a smile on your face. You're playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, just take it on the chin, go out there and express yourself. Think about it as a normal game because you've been waiting for that moment all your life so just go out and enjoy it'."

Goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Federico Dimarco saw the Azzurri leapfrog their hosts to top Group A3 and qualify for next year's finals, alongside Croatia and the Netherlands.

Yet the visitors were forced to weather a late onslaught from Hungary, kept in the game through Paris Saint-Germain keeper Donnarumma, who lived up to his reputation with a string of impressive saves.

That gradually eroded control over the match frustrated Mancini, who felt his side rested on their laurels too much across the closing stages of Monday's encounter.

"It was a difficult game," he told RAI Sport. "It was all perfect until the final 20 minutes.

"We really need to improve in our ability to control the game for 90 minutes, as we worked so hard to be 2-0 up, so suffering like that in the final 20 minutes just makes no sense.

"We should have kept pushing for a third goal. I lost my voice because I was shouting so much in the final 20 minutes."

Rossi, who played alongside Mancini in a brief stint with Sampdoria almost three decades ago and embraced warmly at full-time, was more philosophical on his side's defeat.

However, the Italian was fast to praise countryman Donnarumma, who after something of a mixed first year at PSG following his Euro 2020 heroics, looks back to his best this season.

"It would have been nice to perform a miracle tonight, but when you play against teams like Italy, you have to make zero mistakes and hope the other side get it wrong," Rossi said in his post-match press conference.

"Even when we did have the chances, we were kept out by the best goalkeeper in the world. It's no coincidence that PSG signed Donnarumma."

Rossi also hailed Hungary's supporters, praising their "great respect and civility" for their opponents in Budapest.

"I've been in football for many years," he added. "I've seen packed stadiums and fans on their feet, but never anything like the passion you can feel when Hungary play on home turf."

France head coach Didier Deschamps called up Martial to the national team for the first time since March 2018 following a stellar season at club level for the Manchester United striker.

The 24-year-old came on as a substitute in the 1-0 victory over Sweden on Saturday and won a penalty that Antoine Griezmann fired over.

With Kylian Mbappe ruled out of Tuesday's Nations League clash against Croatia after testing positive for coronavirus, Martial was handed a start and set up Griezmann to restore parity after Dejan Lovren's opener in Paris.

Martial then saw his effort from Wissam Ben Yedder's cross hit the post and go in off the back off goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, putting France ahead before half-time.

Josip Brekalo equalised 10 minutes after the restart but Dayot Upamecano's header and a penalty from Olivier Giroud gave Les Bleus victory in the replay of the 2018 World Cup final, which they won by the same scoreline.

"It's been a long time since I played for France and it was important to me to have a good match," Martial told TF1. "I managed to score and provide an assist. We won and I'm very happy.

"It was a bit complicated in the front three at the start because we didn't have the ball, but as soon as we managed to combine, we knew how to put them in danger.

"The victory was great. We scored points and that's important."

France laboured to victory over Sweden and Deschamps persisted with the same 3-4-3 formation against Croatia, though he changed seven players in his line-up.

Deschamps hopes to iron out the kinks in the system ahead of the delayed Euro 2020 next year.

"It's a good thing we had difficulties. The formation is new and we don't have all the automatisms. I changed seven players between the two matches, but I'm not looking for excuses," he told TF1.

"We need to be having difficulties now. June 2021 will not be the time for that.

"Everyone can analyse as they please. This system has advantages and disadvantages, but it will be necessary to repeat this system to develop the automatisms."

England sit bottom of Group 3 after Saturday's goalless draw at the Molineux Stadium, which was played behind closed doors after fan trouble during the Euro 2020 final between the two sides.

The Three Lions' only goal over these opening three games came via the penalty spot, with Harry Kane converting in the closing stages of their eventual 1-1 draw away to Germany.

According to Mount, the creation of chances would be more of an issue than their realisation but England still have to be able to capitalise after a second draw in three games.

"It is frustrating," he told Channel 4 post-match. "Obviously we want to win, we want to create chances and score goals. I probably should have done better with my chance, we had a few other chances, so it is something we need to look at.

"We have created chances but we should have done better with them. We are keeping clean sheets so it is something that is a positive but we need to keep working at it.

"We have had chances today and we probably should have scored, but sometimes you go through little periods where it is difficult. The only thing we can do is keep working hard in training, staying focused and look where we can improve. We have the players to do that, the talent and quality, just work at it."

Predominantly playing in an attacking three in Thomas Tuchel's 3-4-3 for Chelsea, Mount has seemingly found more freedom at international level as a conventional number 10.

Though deployed in a similar role to club level for their opening defeat to Hungary, England boss Gareth Southgate reverted to the 4-2-3-1, with the 23-year-old hinting he's more comfortable with the latter despite the result.

"I was in a 10 role so it gave me freedom to roam and find spaces, trying to link the midfield to the attacking boys," he said afterwards.

"I found myself in spaces to shoot a couple of time but did not to do well enough from my shot and it was too easy for the keeper. It is a difficult one to take because I feel we could have come away with more.

"We want to win every game, even if it is a friendly. We have looked at the last two games, felt confident in what we do but it is a tough one."

Gareth Southgate's side laboured for long periods against the nation who famously humiliated the Three Lions at Euro 2016.

Kyle Walker's 70th-minute red card further complicated matters but Sverrir Ingason joined the Manchester City full-back in receiving his marching orders when he handled Sterling's shot in the final minute.

With Harry Kane having been replaced by debutant Mason Greenwood, the responsibility fell to Sterling, who stroked his spot-kick down the centre of the goal.

"As soon as I got the ball I said 'straight down the middle'," he told Sky Sports. "It's the 90th minute, I knew the keeper wouldn't stand straight in the middle, so I was quite confident."

England then almost instantly threw away their hard-earned gains, with Joe Gomez clumsily impeding substitute Holmbert Fridjonsson in the box.

Birkir Bjarnason stepped up but blazed woefully off target, providing a somewhat fitting conclusion to what was often a slightly disorientating contest.

"We knew it would be difficult and we had to challenge ourselves, find something deep within," Sterling said. "We said if there's any setbacks in the game – we didn't expect the red card – we kept playing our football.

"We kept trying to probe, we kept trying to create chances, we kept compact. We got the penalty in the end.

"We shouldn't have conceded that sloppy penalty, but we got lucky at the end."

Sterling's club team-mate Phil Foden made his international debut in the starting XI and he feels the playmaker's breakthrough, along with that of Greenwood, points towards a bright future.

"Phil, Mason – he's a player I've been excited by and I'm glad to be playing with," the 25-year-old added.

"Phil is a player who gets on the ball, one or two touches, and he's sharp. It's a bright future ahead. We just need to keep growing as a team and each camp we can see that's happening."

Southgate's men return to action against Denmark in Group A2 on Tuesday.

World Cup winner Mbappe appeared set to move to Real Madrid when his contract expired in June, but opted to sign a three-year extension with PSG.

That denied Madrid talisman Karim Benzema the chance to link-up at club level with international team-mate Mbappe, who insisted he stayed at PSG "because the project had changed" and for sentimental reasons.

Deschamps will have the attacking duo to call upon for the Nations League campaign, starting against Denmark next Friday, and the France coach was delighted to see Mbappe stay in Paris.

"It's his choice. It's obvious that he stays in Ligue 1, it's a very good thing for French football," he told reporters on Saturday.

"He is attached to the club, he said what he had to say but in being French, that can only be a good thing.

"We can grow by staying. Today the objective of PSG is the same as in all the big clubs, and to win the Champions League. It may be necessary one day to go abroad, but that is not an obligation.

"We are not going to speak in other periods when there was a lag compared to France. But today, the choice of players is not the same.

"It is perhaps less of an obligation to go abroad to accomplish beautiful things."

There were reports of tension between Benzema and Mbappe after the former uploaded a photo of late rapper Tupac Shakur that was deemed to be a veiled reference to betrayal.

Benzema has since denied those suggestions, insisting he does not feel betrayed by Mbappe, and Deschamps does not envisage problems between the pair when they arrive for international duty.

"From my position as coach, where I have the players live where I know from A to Z what is going on, the main thing is the group," he added.

"It can lead to misunderstandings. From a situation where we can all draw negative conclusions when they are not necessarily negative... It can turn into a misunderstanding, which does not reflect reality.

"Today with the connected world it can go very very quickly, the slightest photo goes quickly. Even if I'm not on there!"

Christopher Nkunku, Moussa Dembele and Wissam Ben Yedder will also join Mbappe and Benzema in France's attacking ranks, with Olivier Giroud missing out from selection.

Deschamps says he did not call up Giroud as he wanted to offer the likes of Nkunku, Dembele and Ben Yedder a chance to show their worth.

"I said that in relation to the attacking players, who will be supposed to have a little more playing time," Deschamps continued.

"Olivier Giroud is not with us, it's to give playing time to Moussa, Christopher and Wissam, who are with us regularly, who have had playing time and will have the opportunity to have a little more.

"If possible we will make sure to involve everyone, some will play more than others. Through the four meetings, we will make sure that they are active, so that they get stronger, to have more experience. It will give additional information on the final list for the World Cup."

The Paris Saint-Germain forward suffered a hamstring problem against Nantes on October 31 and has not recovered in time to feature for his country in Lisbon. 

Mbappe had already missed the friendly defeat to Finland earlier in the week, while it remains unclear if he will be ready for the upcoming Nations League clash with Sweden on Tuesday. 

France boss Didier Deschamps had named the 21-year-old in his initial squad despite doubts over his fitness, though insisted at the time there was no conflict between club and country. 

PSG had announced on Friday that Neymar will return from the Brazil squad to continue his recovery from a groin injury. Moise Kean is also back at the Ligue 1 club after being released from duty with Italy. 

Thomas Tuchel's side are next in action on November 20, taking on Monaco, then host RB Leipzig four days later in the Champions League.

Mbappe scored with Les Bleus' only shot on target in their Nations League Group A3 opener, however, the Paris Saint-Germain sensation went off in the 77th minute after a blow to his foot.

The 21-year-old suffered an ankle injury in PSG's Coupe de France final triumph against Saint-Etienne on July 24 and only just recovered in time for the resumption of their Champions League campaign three weeks later.

France are due to face Croatia in Paris on Tuesday and Mbappe is confident he will be fit enough to play a part.

"It hurts a bit. I took a knock, but it will get better and better so it's fine," Mbappe told M6.

"We will recover well to be better against Croatia. We are going to work. It's the coach who will decide if I play."

France were unconvincing in their victory at the Friends Arena, with the 3-4-3 utilised by Didier Deschamps failing to bring the rewards expected from an attack boasting Mbappe, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann.

Sweden pushed for a late equaliser but left themselves short at the back and Anthony Martial – who replaced Mbappe – won a stoppage-time penalty that Griezmann blasted off target.

Mbappe acknowledged there were only fleeting moments to be positive about for the world champions.

"It was a complicated match. We fought well. It wasn't easy, we had a few sequences to remember," he said.

"We have seen that in the future it could be better. We will try to make this system work. It's a new system, but the most important thing is the victory. We have started the group stage well."

Pogba, who last featured for Les Bleus in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Andorra 16 months ago, was due to be included in France's squad for games against Sweden and Croatia in September, but tested positive for coronavirus.

Rennes teenager Camavinga was a surprise replacement, and went on to make his debut in a 4-2 win over Croatia on September 8.

The 17-year-old has once again been selected by Deschamps, who was able to welcome back Manchester United star Pogba.

"He knows the place he has in the group," Deschamps said of Pogba in a news conference on Thursday.

"He had a very complicated last season. I prefer to have him there, available."

Camavinga also drew the praise of France's World Cup-winning coach.

"He has the ability to do things very well. Especially in the use of the ball," Deschamps said. "He is not at all rushed on the ball. He has everything going for him."

France face Ukraine in a friendly on October 7, before a Nations League double-header against defending champions Portugal and World Cup 2018 runners up Croatia.

Deschamps, however, insists he has no complaints over a pile up of fixtures after a 10-month absence from international football due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I'm not going to say that there are too many games. We went 10 months without a game," Deschamps added. "There will be rotation. All the players will have a longer playing time."

Also included in the squad is Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar, who also tested positive for coronavirus prior to the September fixtures.

Aouar has been strongly linked with Arsenal, with Deschamps acknowledging the youngster may not join up with the squad on Monday – or could leave the camp – if a deadline day move is being pushed through.

France squad in full:

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Mike Maignan (Lille), Steve Mandanda (Marseille); Lucas Digne (Everton), Leo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Clement Lenglet (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid); Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Steven Nzonzi (Rennes), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich), Houssem Aouar (Lyon); Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Kylian Mbappe (PSG).

The World Cup winners and the European champions came into Saturday's match tied on 10 points at the top of Group A3 through four matches, but the head-to-head primary tie-breaker made this clash pivotal after a goalless draw in France.

Kante's strike proved the difference as the Chelsea midfielder stepped up in the 53rd minute after the plethora of attacking talent at both ends had misfired.

France were without Kylian Mbappe due to a hamstring injury, but Anthony Martial might have had a first-half hat-trick and would have been relieved to see Kante come to his aid.

The first miss from the Manchester United forward came as he ran onto Antoine Griezmann's incisive pass but was quickly confronted by Rui Patricio, who had earlier saved comfortably from Kingsley Coman and this time blocked bravely.

France remained on top and Martial should have scored as he turned Adrien Rabiot's wayward acrobatic effort onto the crossbar from four yards, before Patricio made another sublime stop from a close-range attempt.

Fortunately for the visitors, Cristiano Ronaldo was similarly wasteful with a header over the top on the stroke of half-time.

It was Ronaldo's failing which would prove costly following the restart as Patricio spilled Rabiot's low shot and the unlikely figure of Kante pounced to prod into the net.

Jose Fonte directed an unmarked header onto the post as Portugal threatened a response, but that was as close as they came.

Ronaldo was unable to forge a first career goal against France to rescue his side, although he teed up Joao Moutinho for a powerful blast that drew an outstanding save from Hugo Lloris.

What does it mean? Revenge at last

France have won the World Cup since losing the Euro 2016 final on home soil, but they had not beaten conquerors Portugal since that painful occasion.

Deservedly dumping Fernando Santos' side out of a tournament they won last time out would have been particularly satisfying – especially without Mbappe.

It will be Portugal's turn to seek a response as the teams meet once again in Group F at Euro 2020.

Griezmann the creator

In Mbappe's absence, many might have expected Griezmann to step up as France's chief goal threat. Instead, he was their creator.

The Barcelona forward had just one shot, which missed the target, but played three key passes. His gorgeous ball to Martial after 12 minutes deserved a better finish.

Patricio pays price

Although Portugal came into the match later in the second half – finishing with 18 attempts – they were outplayed before the break and relied on Patricio to come to their rescue time and again.

The Wolves goalkeeper made six saves in should have dealt with Rabiot's shot better, instead committing a costly error.

What's next?

France play Sweden and Portugal visit Croatia in the final round of Nations League group games on Tuesday, but the results are now largely academic.

Ronaldo scored a brace against Sweden in a 2-0 away Nations League win.

At the same Stockholm stadium where the forward scored a hat-trick in 2014 World Cup qualifying, his first was a stunning free-kick to bring up a century in international football.

Ronaldo was not done there, though, and curled in a fine second, with Ali Daei's record tally of 109 goals for Iran within his sights.

The Portugal captain posted on Instagram: "Huge pride in this historical goal for our national team!

"When they tell me I can reach 100, I say it's not enough... 101 goals for Portugal."

Santos revealed the nature of Ronaldo's problem in his media conference ahead of the Croatia clash, confirming the infection was thought to have been caused by a bee sting.

Portugal had no issues in his absence at the Dragao, as Joao Cancel, Diogo Jota, Joao Felix and Andre Silva did the damage against a Croatia side that hardly threatened at all before Bruno Petkovic's consolation late on.

The Nations League's defending champions will hope to build on this win by beating Sweden next week, and they could yet call upon Ronaldo, though Santos insisted that he was not resting the Juventus star.

"I wasn't resting him. If he was in good shape, he would have been [in the starting XI] able to play the game," Santos told RTP.

"Today he trained, feels better and, at the moment, he will travel to Sweden. Then we'll see.

"There is no injury, but he has to recover from that infection."

To say it was Portugal's first match in 10 months, the Selecao were exceptional against the 2018 World Cup runners-up.

They peppered the Croatia goal in the first half and then eased to victory in the second period as they proved more clinical.

Santos was impressed, though he stopped short of lavishing his team with praise – he had seen similar in training, therefore knew such a performance was possible.

"From what they did during the week, they showed me this was possible," he added. "This team knows each other well, the job was to remember what has been done before.

"The team corresponded, 100 per cent. There were some less good periods, but that is part of football."

Ronaldo was playing for his country for the first time in 2020, having sat out of last week's 4-1 defeat of Croatia.

That result had prompted suggestions Portugal might be better in the absence of their talisman, but he set the record straight on Tuesday.

Two goals - his 100th and 101st at international level - secured a 2-0 win, adding to a hat-trick at the same stadium as Ronaldo single-handedly defeated Sweden in 2014 World Cup qualifying.

The Juventus forward said afterwards: "I didn't follow the comments. It's an opinion.

"I knew I had left a mark at this stadium and I knew that, if I played, I would leave a mark again. I don't care about provocations.

"What I have done in my career speaks for itself. No, I have to prove nothing to anyone, and when I have to prove it, I show it on the pitch."

On his milestone goal, Ronaldo said: "I am very happy. Firstly, because the team won, which was the goal we had. Then the 100 mark and then the 101, with two goals, makes me very happy.

"Now the future is only for God. I feel good, I feel good for playing with these young players."

Iran legend Ali Daei's record of 109 goals is the next in the striker's sights.

"I beat the 100-goal mark, and now it's the record," Ronaldo added. "It's step by step, without making it an obsession."

But that has not been the case against world champions France, who have never conceded to the Juventus superstar.

Ronaldo again drew a blank against Les Bleus in a 1-0 Nations League defeat on Saturday which saw holders Portugal lose the opportunity to reach the Finals and defend their title.

It was the sixth time the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward had played France without netting, which is his worst such goalless record against any single opponent for club or country.

Only once has Ronaldo beaten France and even then he played a mere 25 minutes, although that came in the Euro 2016 final that made the striker and his team-mates European champions.

The latest reverse, which assured France of top spot in Group A3, was certainly not for a want of trying on Ronaldo's part.

The 35-year-old had six shots, more than any other player on the pitch, but only hit the target once and missed a huge headed opportunity just before half-time.

Ronaldo's sole key pass teed up a Joao Moutinho effort which drew a stunning save from Hugo Lloris.

It was not a vintage Ronaldo display and he was the only player flagged offside twice, conceded a joint-high four fouls and won just six of his 14 duels.

On Friday, the FA confirmed England Under-21 boss Carsley would take over as interim head coach of the senior side ahead of next month's Nations League fixtures.

The Three Lions face the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on September 7 before hosting Finland three days later.

The FA has pledged to undertake a thorough recruitment process as they seek a replacement for Gareth Southgate, with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter and Eddie Howe linked with the role.

Some have suggested Carsley could remain in charge until next year if the FA approaches Guardiola, whose Manchester City contract expires at the end of 2024-25.

The statement confirming Carsley's interim appointment suggested he could remain at the helm beyond next month's matches, and Rooney still feels Guardiola should be offered the job.

The Plymouth Argyle boss told Sky Sports: "I'd like Pep to be honest. I think England have to strive for the best managers and Pep would be great; the way he gets his teams playing. 

"But I think Lee Carsley deserves his opportunity. I played with Lee at Everton, we were both younger and he is a very good person and coach. 

"He's done really well with England's under-21s, similar to Gareth's pathway. 

"So I think he deserves this opportunity and if he does well, maybe you are looking at the next England manager."

The principality earned a 0-0 draw at home to Gibraltar to go unbeaten in back-to-back competitive matches for the first time.

Perennial whipping boys in UEFA competition, San Marino have now secured consecutive goalless draws against Liechtenstein and Gibraltar in Nations League Group D2.

Franco Varrella's side held firm at the Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle despite seeing captain Davide Simoncini sent off for a high tackle on Graeme Torrilla in the 49th minute.

They stopped Gibraltar registering a shot on target despite the visitors having 63 per cent of possession.

San Marino have now kept clean sheets in their past two games, as many as they managed in their first 150 competitive outings, during which they suffered 147 defeats and conceded 669 goals.

They have earned five points across the Nations League and qualifying campaigns for the European Championship and World Cup, with Turkey, Latvia and Estonia the other teams they held.

San Marino's only international victory was a 1-0 success in a friendly against Liechtenstein in April 2004.

Les Bleus beat Portugal 1-0 in Lisbon, gaining a small measure of revenge after losing the Euro 2016 final to Santos' side on home soil and advancing to the Nations League Finals at the expense of the holders.

Although Anthony Martial had a series of early chances and finished with five shots, the sole goal in the Group A3 fixture came courtesy of N'Golo Kante.

Cristiano Ronaldo was wasteful at the other end, failing to hit the target with five of his six efforts, but it was out wide where Santos felt France gained the upper hand.

Kingsley Coman started up front in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe, but Didier Deschamps stationed the winger mainly from the right, directly up against left-back Raphael Guerreiro.

Guerreiro – a key player in attack for Portugal – created three chances but only one in the first half, with six minutes played.

The versatile Borussia Dortmund man and Coman, who was replaced after 59 minutes, largely nullified each other as neither completed a dribble while making one tackle apiece.

However, Coman's dangerous 10th-minute warning shot, which Rui Patricio saved, posed a problem for Portugal, Santos conceded.

"France were better during the first half," the Portugal coach said. "They did what we wanted to do.

"We wanted not to leave them any spaces, not to let them play. We know that it's a team that is capable of getting players in front of goal.

"We managed to do it for 10 minutes and then we had a lot of difficulties. We retreated and France took advantage.

"Placing Coman always on the right was perhaps one of the first causes of our difficulties. This prevented Guerreiro from having the same influence.

"But if we couldn't get down one side, we should have switched to the other and passed between the lines. We did not succeed, unlike what we had done in Paris [a goalless draw].

"France were better. Getting to the break at 0-0 was not quite fair for them. We made a good start in the second half but we conceded a goal.

"It was only then that the team freed themselves. We got three or four chances. But, in general, France deserve their victory."

N'Golo Kante's 53rd-minute goal proved to be enough for France on Saturday as the world champions claimed top spot in Group A3 and a place in the Finals.

Santos opted for a front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and Joao Felix in Lisbon, with Jota introduced shortly after Kante's goal.

The Liverpool forward had eight passes in the opposition half, as many as Silva managed in his 72 minutes, but finished without a shot on goal.

But Santos said the attack was not Portugal's problem against France, defending the decision to start Jota from the bench.

"As I said before, this team played in France and did very well there. And I don't remember someone asking me why Diogo Jota did not start the game," the Portugal coach told a news conference.

"Jota is definitely a top-quality player, everybody knows that. So is Bernardo, and the same goes for Cristiano. And Felix, too. If Jota had played and the team's performance wasn't good, you would ask me why Bernardo or Felix didn't play as Felix is in top form at Atletico Madrid and Bernardo is Bernardo. That's normal.

"I understand your question and I am alright with it. It's normal to listen to these questions after the game.

"But I don't believe this was our problem. We had collective issues and we couldn't stop France playing. And perhaps one or another problem in the midfield, too."

The loss ended Portugal's Nations League defence after they were crowned inaugural champions last year.

While Santos lamented their exit, he was looking ahead to their final group game against Croatia on Tuesday.

"Bad, very bad. It's difficult for me, it's difficult for the players too. It's obviously difficult to take it. And we won't probably sleep tonight. But even without sleeping, tomorrow we need to focus on Tuesday's game," he said.

"We have responsibility to feature in that game and we represent Portugal. The Portuguese fans are used to seeing this team playing well and winning games. Fortunately, we have won many games. I believe tonight was my fourth defeat at the national team since I got here. Therefore, we have to keep our heads high.

"Obviously it will be difficult tomorrow but we must move on and focus on the game against Croatia. We must go there and play well, as this team is used to doing."

A brace at Sweden secured a 2-0 Nations League win and took Ronaldo past a century of strikes for his country.

The goals came just as questions were being asked of Ronaldo's role within the title holders' team, having sat out last week's dominant 4-1 win over Croatia.

Ronaldo said after the match he paid little attention to provocation and had no need to prove himself.

Coach Santos dismissed the notion entirely, meanwhile.

He told a news conference: "What more can I say? A team that has the best in the world cannot be better without the best in the world.

"[Ronaldo] goes on breaking records and records and then, when everyone thinks he is going to finish, there are even more records to beat. He feeds on it."

Portugal needed Ronaldo to step up, with his first – the milestone goal – a wonderful free-kick, after Sweden had given Santos' side an early scare.

Bernardo Silva was injured midway through the opening period, but Gustav Svensson's red card – which prompted Ronaldo's set-piece – gave Portugal the advantage.

"In the first 20 minutes, we had a lot of difficulties," the coach conceded. "We weren't able to get their game right, with the long balls.

"We had a lot of difficulties, because when we had the ball, we lost it very easily.

"We started to improve, we started to have the ball and the game became easier for us, but then we had Bernardo's issue – a forced substitution – and, from then on, I realised that we were going to have more difficulty.

"The red card was fundamental in the game, although I believed we would win anyway. The victory is just."