Fernando Santos was confident for the national team’s debut game at the 2022 World Cup, which is scheduled against Ghana on Thursday (4 p.m., RTP1 and SportTV).
“We are going to be a dynamic and creative team like in the friendly against Nigeria. The players are very focused on that, they have a lot of quality and that’s why I sleep peacefully, not only because we don’t have any injuries, but also because each of the 26 can play because they have a lot of quality. Now it is important that they feel comfortable playing a nice game,” said the national coach, who nevertheless warned about a number of things that he did not like in the match with the Nigerians: “We played really well for 35 minutes, but then there were phases where we lost connection with the game and that can’t happen. They’re unnecessary failures and that’s what we have to eliminate to get the win.”
Despite the confidence he shows, Fernando Santos guarantees that he is alert and very aware of the balance in the World Cup matches so far and especially the surprise caused by Saudi Arabia, who beat the favorite Argentina. “There have been balanced matches and some surprises. Today, all teams are strong, as the players play in major leagues, as is the case in Ghana. Moreover, unlike what happened a few years ago, they already dominate the tactical issues ” , he said, leaving a certainty: “We are all identified with Ghana and, as I tell my players, this is like the zip code, that is, halfway, now it’s up to them on the pitch.”
Still talking about the Ghanaians, he stressed that they are a “very well organized” squad, after showing that “in the last game [particular] with Switzerland”. “If we are not alert, this team has players of enormous quality. Therefore, we have to think about what to do, which is to improve our attributes,” he said, recalling that in the history of the World Cups, Portugal “has always had close matches” with African teams, those “very creative and unpredictable teams”.
The national coach admits that the first game is “always the most important”, after all “victory gives more positive energy”, but he did not forget to remember that Portugal started Euro 2016 with three draws and won the European Championship. “I’ve already signed that,” he guaranteed with a laugh. In this regard, he again expressed his “ambition, desire and dream to become world champion”. “I believe we have the ability to at least fight for that. We are not presumptuous, but we are convinced of the quality of our team and our players,” he underlined.
Asked about the 2018 World Cup in Russia being a disappointment and whether there are any differences from what is being experienced in Qatar, Fernando Santos made a curious revelation: “The only word written in our lecture hall is ‘ us’ These are players who have won both competitions [Euro 2016 e Liga das Nações] who knows, this is essential. The 2018 World Cup came after an incident, when six or seven players arrived in Russia without a club and everyone was talking about it. I even saw one of them talking to the Chief of the Guard about this matter. We then had players signing and renewing contracts. The atmosphere was good, but there was some division. In addition, there was the covid-19, each for his own side. Now it’s different and the joy and spontaneity from the first day of concentration is very noticeable.”
The Cristiano Ronaldo theme was clearly on the table beforehand in the preview of the game against Ghana, but Fernando Santos chose to play down the potential impact it will have on the corner team. “It won’t take away our focus. In fact, I haven’t heard a single comment on this topic from the players. Just now, 20 players were watching Morocco’s match against Croatia, while others were playing foosball, and that’s no problem, nor for Cristiano himself. Now, when they talk on the phone, I don’t know, everyone calls whoever they want and says what they want, of course.”
From what he has seen at the start of the World Cup, Fernando Santos believes that “the players are at the peak of their form” because the tournament is played in the middle of the season, which he says “the first games are very competitive and intense , which is not normal at Worlds”. In this sense, he believes that “the question of recovery and rest will be fundamental” during the championship, recalling that in the first days in Qatar there were “some sleep problems”.
Asked about the controversy over the rainbow bracelets banned by FIFA, the national coach said he had been “a defender of freedom, democracy and human rights for many years” and remembered making “a video about human rights”, but still, he tried to avoid controversy: “There are issues that have nothing to do with us, they are FIFA issues, I’ll leave that to others.”
Bruno Fernandes feigns the controversy surrounding Ronaldo
Bruno Fernandes was the player present in the press room and, unsurprisingly, was faced with numerous questions about Cristiano Ronaldo, who was his team-mate at Manchester United until last Tuesday.
The midfielder assured CR7 did not speak to him about the controversy surrounding his departure from Old Trafford. “It’s something that only concerns him and his family. We haven’t talked about it. We’re all focused on the national team and the World Cup,” he said, recalling that this is a competition that “every player would like to play” . play and reach a final”. As such, everyone is “aware of what needs to be done to better represent the country”.
Bruno Fernandes said he is still not uncomfortable with the situation created by Ronaldo. “It was a huge honor to represent the national team with Cristiano and play with him at the club. It was a dream come true, but we all know that nothing lasts forever. It was good while it lasted, but he has made another one now.” decision for his life and his career. “, he concluded, later explaining the episode of his late arrival at the training camp, which led Ronaldo to ask him if he had traveled by boat: “I was on the plane for two hours and my mood was no better”, he joked, remembering that the CR7 didn’t have these problems because “it’s got its plane.”
Source: DN
