Coach Luc Holtz said this Saturday that Portugal may have a “bad day” against Luxembourg, in the second day of Group J of the qualifying phase for Euro 2024 soccer, in which he hopes to be lucky again.
The red lions receive Portugal at the Stade de Luxembourg on Sunday, motivated by the goalless draw obtained in Slovakia, in the first round of the ‘poule’, so Luc Holtz does not hide the desire to cause surprise again.
“They may have a bad day and let’s hope Luxembourg have a good day. The pressure is always there when you play against a great team and tomorrow [domingo] We won’t know if it could be another lucky day,” the 53-year-old Luxembourg coach said during the pre-match press conference.
Taking into account that Portugal has a new tactical system with Roberto Martínez, with three central defenders, the host coach devalued the change, recalling the capabilities of the Portuguese players.
“For me it doesn’t matter what system they play in, because it will always be difficult. They are players with very strong technique and flexibility. I think that [o Roberto Martínez] he has to worry more about his eleven and the players he has to leave out,” he said.
Defender Mica Pinto, who was formed at Sporting de Portugal, having also represented Belenenses and União da Madeira, did not hide the fact that the duel against “one of the best teams in the world” will be special.
“It’s one of the best teams in the world and it’s always a special game. I was born here, my family lives here and I’m going to defend the people of Luxembourg. I’m going to do my best for my country.” , guaranteed the 29-year-old left defender, who represented Portugal’s under-18 and under-20 teams.
Currently playing for Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam, the 27-time Luxembourg cap spoke of the significant improvements his national team has made and, like his coach, hopes to find Portugal uninspired.
“We have been improving a lot, the results also say so. We play at home and the greats also have a day in which they play worse. Tomorrow can be our day.” [domingo]. We believe in it and we have our weapons, ”she recalled.
Finally, he left a few words about the captain of the Portuguese team: “Ronaldo is Ronaldo. It doesn’t matter if he plays in Saudi Arabia or France. I don’t need to say anything else.”
At the start of Group J, Luxembourg got a surprising draw against Slovakia (0-0), while at the Estádio José Alvalade, Portugal thrashed Liechtenstein, 4-0, with a ‘double’ from captain Cristiano Ronaldo and goals from João I cancel and Bernardo Silva.
On Sunday, the Luxembourg team welcomes the ‘quinas’ team at the modern Stade de Luxembourg, inaugurated in July 2021, at 7:45 p.m. (8:45 p.m. local time), in a match that will be led by the Romanian Radu Petrescu .
Portugal needs to be in one of the first two places to have direct access to the final phase of the competition scheduled for Germany (June 14 to July 14, 2024).
Source: TSF
