The Portuguese women’s soccer team lost, this Sunday, 2-1 against their Norwegian counterpart, in an unofficial match with unlimited substitutions, played behind closed doors in Auckland, New Zealand.
At Mangere Center Park, the ‘quinas’ even scored first, through striker Telma Encarnação, but the Nordics, world champions in 1995, turned the game around, in a match that was tied at one goal in the rest.
The Portuguese coach, Francisco Neto, used almost all of the players, and the main novelty was the absence of the ‘captain’ Dolores Silva, who was left out in managing the effort.
For their part, the three players who have been working outside the group were not used either, the forward Kika Nazareth, who was injured on July 1, in the friendly at the stronghold of the European champion England (0-0) , the defense the midfielder Sílvia Rebelo and the midfielder Fátima Pinto.
In addition, the Portuguese coach took advantage of this training match, which lasted as usual, although with several stops, to observe the 19 remaining players, including Maria Alaçoa and Alicia Correia, who are training with the team, but who They are not among the 23 chosen for the 2023 World Cup.
At the end of the match, which included several players who had already been substituted, the two teams trained to take penalties.
The formation of the ‘quinas’ continues this Monday the preparation for the 2023 World Cup, with an open training session for the press and the community, which is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. local time (11:30 p.m. on Sunday in Lisbon), with the time yet to be confirmed.
Portugal’s debut in the World Cup is scheduled for a week from now, on July 23, at 7:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. in Lisbon), in Dunedin, against the Netherlands, current world runner-up, in a match for the first round of the Group E
After the clash with the Dutch, the Portuguese team faces Vietnam, also debuting, in Hamilton, on July 27, also at 7:30 p.m. local time (08:30 a.m. in Lisbon), closing Group E against the United States , winner of the last two World Cups, in Auckland, on August 1, at 7:00 p.m. local time (08:00).
For their part, Norway will have the honor of participating in the opening match of the 2023 World Cup, when they take on hosts New Zealand on Thursday (July 20), in a match scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local time (08 :00 local time). Lisbon), at Eden Park in Auckland.
The ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup takes place from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
Source: TSF
