Midfielder Bruno Fernandes said on Wednesday that only his compatriot Rafa Silva can “explain later” why he resigned from the Portuguese national soccer team, but he believes the decision was not taken lightly.
“I haven’t talked to Rafa yet, nor do I think I should. It’s his decision and we have to respect it, because each person has their life, their problems and the way to solve them. Nobody makes this decision lightly.” but only Rafa will be able to explain that reason later”, the English player of Manchester United began by saying to the media.
On Monday, Rafa, 29, ended his Portuguese national team career after 25 first-team appearances, citing “personal reasons.”
However, the midfielder highlights that “the most important thing was the help” he gave to the national team, for which everyone has to be “grateful” to Rafa, for having been an “excellent player” with the Portuguese ‘colors’ .
“I am happy to have shared space with him here and in the U21. He will go down in history, because he won the two most important competitions in our country, he is included in them,” he recalled.
At the Quinas de Ouro 2022 gala, which took place on Tuesday, at the Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras, the ‘captain’ of the Portuguese national team Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his desire to be present at the 2022 World Cup and also at Euro 2024 .a position that did not surprise the companion.
“Who could believe that Cris didn’t want to be in that European Championship clearly doesn’t know him. For the resilience, ambition of him, the taste that he has shown over the years, he is nothing new to us. Cris wants to achieve things that others never had and will continue to have the same importance. He is the best player in the world”, he pointed out.
On Saturday, Portugal will face the Czech Republic, in the penultimate game of Group A2 of the League of Nations, in Prague, in which the Portuguese will be “aware of the difficulties”, according to Bruno Fernandes.
“The goal is to win both games, the focus is on the first one. We need to score as many points as possible to go to the next stage and we are aware of the difficulties we will encounter in the game. It is never an easy game with a lot of quality of players and we know what awaits us. There are players who play in the best leagues in the world”, he said.
Bruno Fernandes’ attitude on the pitch, that is, with his teammates and sometimes with the referees, was another topic addressed at the press conference.
“I don’t consider myself a leader. I react a lot on the surface, it’s my way of being and being in football, because I like to help and be critical. I like to improve and improve others, but I don’t want to”. be a leader. Always my way of being on the field”, he concluded.
After four games, the Portuguese occupy second place in Group A2, with seven points, after having beaten Switzerland (4-0) and the Czech Republic (2-0), in Lisbon, tied in Seville, with Spain (1- 1). ), and lost in Geneva, against the Swiss (1-0).
Spain is leader of the ‘poule’, with eight points, while the Czech Republic is third, with four, and last Switzerland, with three.
The ‘quinas’ team, winner of the first edition of the League of Nations in 2019, by beating the Netherlands in the final, needs to win the group to reach the ‘final four’ of the third edition, the second being won by France, in a final with Spain, in 2021.
The four winners of the League A group qualify for the final, which includes the semi-finals, the final and the match for third place. The ‘final four’ of the third edition of the race will be held in June 2023.
Source: TSF
