After Portugal's disappointing 2014 World Cup campaign, one which saw them exit in the group stage, many were hoping Paulo Bento would kick off the Selecção das Quinas's 2016 Euro qualifiers with a bang.
However, this was never meant to be. In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo who is looking to gain full fitness, the team endured a terrible start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, falling to a shock 1-0 loss at home to Albania, on Sunday.
A 52nd minute right-footed wonder volley from Bekim Balaj sealed all three points for the visitors as Luis Nani and company failed to reply at the other end of the pitch.
Portugal had many attempts at securing at least a point in the game in Aveido, but came up short against Albania.
The home side was met with boos from their own fans, as many held out white tissue in protest against their under-par performance. Others took to Twtitter to call for the Portuguese football association (FPF) to sack their 45-year-old manager, Paulo Bento.
Many Portugal fans called for the sacking of Paulo Bento after the national team's disappointing 1-0 home loss to Albania
Already after the horrible WC that #Portugal have had, I said that Bento needs to be sacked as their coach. Today I'm even more convinced...
— Siempre con CR7 ♥ (@CR7forBeastMode) September 7, 2014
Oh and I've given up international football until Paulo Bento is sacked as Portugal's manager and Nani is shipped to Mars.
— Pamela (@Pamela___) September 8, 2014
Paulo Bento needs to go
— Marta (@Mlovegodlovato) September 7, 2014
Paulo Bento, do yourself and everyone else a favor. Resign. If not a humiliating World Cup was enough, losing 1-0 to Albania at home should.
— Jan Hagen (@PortuBall) September 7, 2014
Paulo Bento and the majority of his squad should be ashamed of that performance. Disgraceful #FireBento
— Igor Henriques (@IgorHS15) September 7, 2014
This is Portugal's 4th official home loss this century and now the FPF have had enough. The sacking of Paulo Bento will be confirmed soon.
— TheCRonaldoFan (@TheCRonaldoFan) September 7, 2014
Even I'd be a better manager than Paulo Bento, absolutely clueless, useless and hopeless. Hopefully he'll get the axe soon.
— Heather (@hthr182) September 7, 2014
Clearly whatever Paulo Bento is doing is not working. If I failed at my job, I would get fired
— {Meg ♡} (@loversoutoftime) September 7, 2014
Albania ran away with a shock 1-0 victory away to Portugal in the Euro 2016 qualifiers
A wonder volley from Bekim Balaj was enough to seal Albania all three points in Sunday's game
Bekim Balaj (center) and his team-mates celebrate their team's goal seven minutes into the second half
Nani, who wore his nation's armband in place for CR7, looks on as his side put in a terrible performance
Selecção das Quinas were without their 29-year-old influential captain Cristiano Ronaldo
"[The white tissues] are normal situations of football," Bento said to RTP when discussing the home crowds frustration with the team. "I think we must respect the choices and decisions of the people and try to continue.
"We know that the game didn't go our way, although I think the result was unfair."
Portugal dominated play in the first 45 minutes of the match, but spurred opportunities to take the lead before the break, something Paulo Bento feels cost his team the game.
"It was a game that didn't go well in terms of the result, of course, but in the first half we had opportunities to score. We had the game completely controlled during the first 45 minutes."
