The Portuguese women’s soccer team returned to training in Auckland, New Zealand on Monday, less than 24 hours after its debut, losing (0-1) in the 2023 World Cup, in Dunedin, against the Netherlands.
At Mangere Center Park, already at night, the headlines of Sunday’s clash only completed their active recovery in the gym, with the exception of Fátima Pinto, who suffered a touch in the game with the Dutch and went to have a knee checked.
The player who will return to Sporting in 2023/24 was also in the official training camp of the ‘Navegadoras’, but, as a precaution, she did not work.
For their part, the 12 remaining players, including those who entered during the match (Kika Nazareth, Lúcia Alves, Andreia Jacinto and Telma Encarnação), were on the pitch working under the orders of Francisco Neto.
In the first 15 minutes, open to the media, the players completed an initial physical phase and then had to play on a small field.
For sailors, the day began in Dunedin, with breakfast with the Prime Minister, António Costa, followed by a nearly two-hour flight back to Auckland.
The corner formation was back to work on Tuesday morning, again at Mangere Center Park.
After the setback with the Netherlands, Portugal will play again on Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. in Lisbon), in Hamilton, against Vietnam, which opened with a 3-0 defeat against the two-time defending champion United States.
To continue in the race towards the round of 16, a prize for the top two finishers in each group, Francisco Neto’s men need to beat the Asians, in a clash between newcomers, on the second day of Group E.
On the same day, at 1:00 p.m. local time (02:00 a.m. in Lisbon), in Wellington, the United States will face the Netherlands, in a repeat of the 2019 final, then won by the Americans, who won 2-0.
Source: TSF
