Portugal coach Fernando Santos safe for now, 'guarantees' World Cup qualification via play-offs

'We always played with fear and anxiety, passing from side to side, back to the goalkeeper. The responsibility is mine'

APOLOGY: Portugal's coach Fernando Santos says he understands the disappointment of the Portuguese people - "but they are not more disappointed than us." 

PORTUGAL coach Fernando Santos will lead the Seleção into the World Cup play-offs, despite a chors of criticism and calls for his resignation in the wake of their dramatic loss at home to Serbia on Sunday.

The defeat consigned Santos' squad to the play-offs, picking up only one point from a possible six in the crucial pair of group games in Dublin and at home to the Serbians.