They got there. As queens of Portuguese football, the players of the national team today occupy the Sala das Bicas of the Palace of Belém, the same 30 square meters where so many other athletes – including the European champions in 2016 – were received by the President of the Republic . Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa wanted to receive the navigators (the nickname of the players) and highlight the “joy” that the women’s team brought to the country when they first qualified for a World Cup: “A day of mourning and sorrow because of the war Even in wartime [invasão da Ucrânia aconteceu há um ano] they gave us joy.
The qualification is “extremely prestigious for Portugal” and deserves to be highlighted, even for how it has contributed to “the role of Portuguese women in society”, at a time when they still experience “discrimination” in their skin feel, said the President of the Republic, who pays attention to the bet that the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has made in women’s football. Marcelo also congratulated the players in the figure of captain Dolores Silva and “those two who scored the winning goals against Cameroon (2-1)” and placed Portugal in the 2023 World Cup. “Those two” are Diana Gomes and Carole Costa.
For the head of state, there is still a long way to go in terms of the appreciation of women, although there are good signs of change, such as the fact that the Sport portfolio falls under the responsibility of a minister, Ana Catarina Mendes, present at the tribute: “I come from the time when women could not be diplomats, policemen, soldiers, judges, when discrimination was not only what it is today, in salary, in living conditions: it is that they could not, in basic matters, have the activity that men had and, talking about women’s football at that time, talked about fiction. It is exceptional. Portuguese society has changed and changed and one of the fundamental aspects is to change through the role of women. Not everything has changed, no If everything had changed, whoever spoke here would now be a woman and we will get there, to have a woman president of the republic But your step is fundamental, but as the president of the Federation said, that was yesterday. Now, what matters is tomorrow.”
The president of the republic then took unknown paths saying that the “ambition must be to reach the final” and even judged the Portuguese opponents as if it were men’s football: “First the Netherlands, we have to beat the Netherlands [Países Baixos]. Then Vietnam, which should be easier, but you never know. Then the United States, you never know, they’ve evolved and in terms of women’s soccer, they’re unexpected. And then we keep going, we don’t stop.” They must have made an effort not to make faces at hearing such a sentence, as the North Americans are two-time world champions and if there is a country where women’s football is superior to men’s, it is in the US.
And after kissing one by one the Portuguese entourage led by Fernando Gomes. Dolores Silva acted as head of protocol and introduced her colleagues to the president, who gave a big hug to Carole Costa, who scored the goal that gave Portugal victory play off with Cameroon and qualifying for the 2023 World Cup. And after immortalizing the moment in a group photo and posing for a selfie – the marselfie taken with Kika Nazareth’s mobile phone -, Marcelo shot: “Why don’t we all sing the national anthem?” And so, to the sound of A Portuguesa, the queens of Portuguese football left the palace: “From now on they could always sing it after victories and not just before matches.”
Gone are the days when “it was said football wasn’t for girls”.
Fernando Gomes began by recalling the time when “it was said that football was not for girls” to highlight the “spectacular achievement” of qualifying for a World Cup for the first time in 30 years (first World Cup was in 1991). Because in addition to the difficulties they experienced in the sporting field, they had to endure even greater difficulties in order to play football and now make it possible to be present at a World Cup. And with that certainty: “The association continues to invest in women’s football. I hope the Portuguese continue to support you.”
A bit embarrassed or just tired after the nearly 24-hour journey from Hamilton, New Zealand, to Lisbon and with a stopover in Dubai, the team captain thanked the Federation for the welcome and commitment to the modality, not to mention that this is a moment that cheers to all generations.
Earlier, at the airport, Dolores Silva had been more exuberant. “A very big emotion, they were tears of many years and generations. It represents a lot for Portuguese women’s football. We knew the responsibility that came with this match. It is incredible to achieve this feat, make history and represent Portugal Participating in a World Cup for the first time is indescribable,” said Dolores Silva (Sp. Braga), hoping that more and more girls will want to play it: “And that the future looks bright, because Portugal has a lot of talent.”
Without the physical presence of Francisco Neto, who remained in New Zealand to deal with the details of his participation in the 2023 World Cup, the Portuguese entourage was received in euphoria at Humberto Delgado Airport, from where he then departed for Belém. Carole Costa recalled that “the work that has been done is in everyone’s eyes, both in the clubs and in the Federation”, as evidenced by the two presences in the European Championship and now the World Cup: “It’s been crazy days, it’s been an incredible journey, we are very happy and we may not even be able to express it.”
At the airport, Portuguese Football Federation director Mónica Jorge said qualifying represents a growing sport. “It was another page being written, very nice and consistent, because it’s a multi-year process. There were a lot of players who started with us at 15 years old, to come here one day, to a final like this – because for us it was a final -, and to be able to mark the dream,” explains the manager, who was already a Portuguese coach.
“Doing more and wanting more” is now the motto: “Participation in the World Cup allows everyone to grow, the players, the clubs where they are placed and a [portuguesa] that we want it to become even stronger and more competitive.”
Portugal is one of 32 teams to have qualified for the 2023 World Cup, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20. The Portuguese team is part of Group E, together with the number two of the Netherlands (July 23), Vietnam (27) and the two-time world champion of the United States
Source: DN
