The Portuguese team played a “great football show” this Tuesday by qualifying for the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup beating Switzerland (6-1), Prime Minister António Costa, who was in Lusail, stressed.
“But most important of all was the great spectacle that the squad provided for anyone who loves football. More than the goals, it was the collective feeling, the fun and the enjoyment the players had while playing. I think it was a great evening.” for us all. I hope the next ones will be like this”the head of government entrusted to journalists.
At Estádio Lusail, stage of the competition’s finals, Portugal defeated Switzerland in the final round of 16 match, with a ‘hat-trick’ from Gonçalo Ramos, to guarantee its third-ever presence in the top-8 of the main draw of selections , in line with the 1966 and 2006 editions.
“It was an extraordinary game. We are all very moved with what the team has done, not only because of the result, but also because of the way it played and because of the will and confidence that it has handed us all over for the next games “continued António Costa, revealing that at the end of the game he went to the locker room to greet and congratulate the athletes.
Gonçalo Ramos signed the first hat-trick of the tournament, at 17, 51 and 67 minutes, with Pepe, at 33, Raphaël Guerreiro, at 55, and Rafael Leão, at 90+2, completing the remaining national goals, while Manuel Akanji scored the Swiss goal, on 58.
“If we are lucky enough to all reach the final, I hope to come back here. If not, I will be cheering in front of the television like millions of Portuguese around the world”noted the Prime Minister, who traveled to Qatar for the first time since the start of the 2022 World Cup, after being replaced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ana Catarina Mendes, in charge of Sport, in Friday’s defeat to South Korea (1-2), by Paulo Bento, for the third round of Group H, due to health reasons.
Portugal now takes on Morocco, who eliminated Spain on Tuesday (3-0 on penalties, after 0-0 in extra time), Saturday at 6:00 PM local time (3:00 PM in Lisbon), at the Estádio Al Thumama, in Doha, in a duel for the ‘quarters’ of the 2022 World Cup.
“We were condemned to play with our neighbours. It will be a different game, but clearly we have the team to do what needs to be done. In a competition like this, anything is possible and impossible. Who would say that in 2016 we would come out of there as champions of Europe “The truth is we came and this year the same thing may or may not happen. We have a difficult path and Morocco is playing very well, it turned out. If we succeed, we’ll have one of two great teams [nas meias-finais], France or England. You cannot become a world champion without going through these obstacles and difficulties”said Antonio Costa.
From the starting eleven for Dusail’s game was Cristiano Ronaldo, who replaced João Félix, in the 74th minute, a day after Fernando Santos admitted he “really didn’t like” the attitude of the captain when he was substituted in the slip against South Korea. .
“Coaches have to make tough decisions. Cristiano Ronaldo is always a great player, but the coach makes his choices and we have to respect and support him. The truth is that with Fernando Santos we have always had a good career and we do.” in this World Cup. Football is a team game and you have to manage this team in such a way that everyone is at their best at the right time. That’s what happened.”noted.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a starter in Portugal’s three previous games in Qatar, in which he was always substituted in the second half, has not missed a game in a major international squad since Euro 2004, at a time when he is without a club. after canceling his contract with Manchester United.
“Portugal is a country that has no enemies in the world and cultivates friendships. Then we have a superstar, and that is Cristiano. In fact, when the stadium shouted ‘Ronaldo Ronaldo Ronaldo’, you could see that many [dos adeptos] they were not Portuguese. You saw the reaction people had when he walked in. There is an extraordinary empathy. In addition to the collective, it adds a lot for itself”concluded António Costa, who had left Albania this afternoon, where he took part in the European Union’s first summit with the Western Balkans.
Source: DN
