The Portuguese coach, Francisco Neto, expressed this Thursday feeling “immense happiness” for the forecast of a full stadium against Ukraine, with more than 20,000 people, in the last preparation test for the Women’s World Cup.
With the recent announcement by the Portuguese Football Federation, which confirmed the full capacity at Estádio do Bessa, next Friday, the ‘quinas’ team will clearly exceed the current record of spectators in national team matches, some 11 thousand, present at the clash with Wales, in Guimarães, on April 11.
“It is an immense happiness. It was something we really wanted, to bring and have the public with us. Above all, it is the recognition of the Portuguese in relation to what this team has been doing and what it represents, at this moment, for the country. It appears as a result of what we have been doing in recent times, ”said the coach, at a press conference.
Given the euphoria for Portugal’s first participation in a World Cup, the coach asked the players to focus on their day-to-day life, considering that they still have a lot of work to do before they leave for New Zealand, scheduled for next Monday.
“It is the first time in a World Cup, it is normal to be anxious. All the players are looking forward to traveling on Monday and being able to get to New Zealand to adjust, but we know there is a lot of work ahead. There is still a lot to do and we have to focus on the day-to-day,” he said.
After a historic draw against England (0-0), European champions, in the last friendly, the coach expects a Ukrainian team capable of presenting other types of problems to the Portuguese team.
“It will be a game with a different pattern of problems than the one we found ourselves in. We, with England, had an approach to play that led more, more often than not, to moments of defensive organization. I think tomorrow’s game [sexta-feira] It will lead us to more moments of offensive organization, that is, possibly the team will have more moments with the ball”, analyzed the coach
Still on Ukraine, Francisco Neto explained that only a Portuguese team at its best organizational moment could defeat the Ukrainian team, in a match in which he hopes there will be situations that can be replicated to those of the 2023 World Cup.
Francisco Neto described the recent work of the players as “tiring” and “very demanding” and was proud of the team’s progress from a mental point of view, with emphasis on the team’s response capacity in adverse situations and environments.
“They have been moments of a lot of work, of a lot of accumulated fatigue, of a lot of demand above all, but also of a lot of maturity. And we realized that on the emotional side of the game we were good and stable. [sexta-feira] the environment will be more in our favour, but we also need it because we believe that the World Cup is going to have these types of matches”, he concluded.
Before leaving for New Zealand, scheduled for next Monday, Portugal will receive Ukraine at 8:45 p.m. on Friday at the Estádio do Bessa, in Porto, in the last friendly match to prepare for the World Cup.
In the World Cup, which will be played in New Zealand and Australia between July 20 and August 20, Portugal will compete in Group E and face runners-up Holland (July 23), Vietnam (July 27) and the world champion United States. (August 1).
Source: TSF
