Joaquim Milheiro, Portugal’s under-19 football coach, showed “great confidence” ahead of Sunday’s final against Italy on Saturday, acknowledging the importance of the game against a well-known opponent. The president of the republic has already sent a message to the players of the under-19 national team saying that he is waiting for them in Belém.
“This is one of the most important games of this generation, which we will want to pick up and I am confident that we will be happy. We really want to be champions of Europe.” guaranteed this Saturday the Portuguese coach, in the preview of the clash, made available in audio by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Portugal and Italy, who faced each other in the group stage, where the ‘quinas’ team (5-1) played against an opponent reduced to 10 players, will meet again in the final of the European Championship in Malta, in a match that starts Sunday at 8 p.m.
“Italy changed their strategy a bit, maybe because they lost to Portugal and had different opponents, with a different organization. This morning we worked on the details and I think my players understood and know how to win”added the Portuguese coach.
The coach again underestimated the many absences there are in this under-19 group, which played in the European Championship without some of the players who were in qualifying, explaining that the process has been done, extensively, in recent years.
“In this team, during five years of development, it was very important to create this resilience process, living with different contexts of high difficulty. We were integrating different players, they had these experiences and this whole created environment sets these players stands to grow. No, I am not limited at all by the absence of eight, nine, ten players,” he reflected.
The coach also said that there is huge affection from those who are not present, as well as recognition from the Portuguese people, for the mentality of this team, made of “solidarity, commitment, identity and passion” in the way they play.
Finally, Joaquim Milheiro also acknowledged that there is an idea of the demands of the game in the group and warned that no one is a champion in advance.
“It’s very important to keep up with the demands of the game, we can’t launch missiles for the party, we have to keep ourselves in balance emotionally, with the ability to manage the pressure, which is high, but it is positive”justified.
Benfica midfielder Diogo Prioste, who played three games at this European Championship, including two as a starting player, against Poland (2-0) and Malta (2-1), wants to take the opportunity of this European Championship, after not having the opportunity to participate in the championship of the previous level.
“Unfortunately we had covid-19, which took away the possibility of playing in the European Under-17 Championship, but luckily we continued our preparation and today we feel much better prepared to play in the final of the European Championship. I want to very happy to win this title, it will undoubtedly mark me and all my colleagues in our career.
Marcelo encourages the selection
The president of the republic sent a message this Saturday to the under-19 football team saying they have “the enormous support” of all Portuguese and that he is waiting for them at the palace of Belém.
“Enter the field tomorrow with willpower, you will have a whole country in front of you, full of pride and hope! I’m waiting for you here at the Belém Palace! Good luck!” reads a message from Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to the players who Malta for the final of the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.
The head of state says he has followed the progress of the national team in this championship “with great enthusiasm” and adds that he has seen the arrival in the final “with new emotion”.
“Arriving here, I want to tell you once again that this place in the final is already a new success and you now have a great responsibility, but you also have the huge support of all the Portuguese and the President of the Republic,” the message reads .
Source: DN
