Midfielder Bruno Fernandes said on Wednesday only his compatriot Rafa Silva can “explain later” why he resigned from the Portugal national football team, but believes the decision was not taken lightly.
“I haven’t talked to Rafa yet, and I don’t think I should. It’s his decision and it should be respected, because everyone has their own life, their problems and the way to solve them. Nobody take this decision lightly. but only Rafa will be able to explain that reason later,” the English player of Manchester United told the media.
On Monday, 29-year-old Rafa ended his career with the Portuguese national team after 25 caps for the first team, citing “personal reasons”.
However, the midfielder insists that “the most important thing was the help” he gave to the squad, so everyone should be “grateful” to Rafa for being an “excellent player” with the Portuguese “colours”.
“I’m glad I shared the space with him here and in the under-21s. He will go down in history because he won the two biggest leagues in our country, he’s included in that,” he recalls.
At the Quinas de Ouro 2022 gala, which took place on Tuesday in 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 teammate.
“Whoever could believe that Cris would not want to be at that European Championship clearly does not know him. Due to his resilience, ambition, the taste he has shown over the years, it is nothing new for us. Cris wants to achieve things that others have never done and will continue to have the same importance. He is the best player in the world,” he emphasized.
On Saturday, Portugal will face the Czech Republic in the penultimate game of Group A2 of the League of Nations in Prague, where the Portuguese “will be aware of the difficulties,” said Bruno Fernandes.
“The goal is to win both games, the focus is on the first. We need to score as many points as possible to move to the next stage and we are aware of the difficulties we will face in the game. It is never a simple game with great player quality and we know what to expect. There are players who play in the best leagues in the world,” he said.
The attitude Bruno Fernandes brings out on the pitch, to his teammates and sometimes to the referees, was another topic discussed 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 that I don’t want to be a leader. Always my way to be on the pitch,” he concluded.
After four rounds, the Portuguese are in second place in Group A2, with seven points, after leveling Switzerland (4-0) and the Czech Republic (2-0) in Lisbon, with Spain (1-0) 1). ), and lost in Geneva to the Swiss (1-0).
Spain is the group leader with eight points, while the Czech Republic is third with four and Switzerland last with three.
The ‘quinas’ team, winner of the first edition of the League of Nations in 2019, must win the group by beating the Netherlands in the final to reach the ‘final four’ of the third edition, the second is won by France, in a final with Spain, in 2021.
The four winners of the League A group qualify for the finals, which include 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: DN
