Joao Neves was called up to the national team for the first time this Friday, which was the big news in the call-up for the games against Slovakia (next Friday) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (16th place) in the qualifying stage of the European Championship next time. year, year.
“I think he has taken a step forward in his evolution as a footballer. This season he leads a team like Benfica with games in the Champions League. He was man of the match against Porto… After his performance with the under-21s at the last training camp, this is a well-deserved step forward,” explained coach Roberto Martinez.
João Neves arrives in the first team just over nine months after making his Benfica first-team debut in the 89th minute of a 3-0 defeat to Braga on 30 December 2022. From last season to this season, he played 30 games for the Eagles, scoring one goal and providing two assists. He made six appearances for the under-21s and scored one goal.
Unlike the 19-year-old Benfica player, Pedro Goncalves and Sporting’s Paulinho remain out of options: “I think this was the most difficult list for us. We have compiled a preliminary list of 42 names. We have Portuguese players who play at a high level in the best club competitions in the world, such as Diogo Leite, Bruma, Matheus Nunez, Galeno, Joao Mario, William Carvalho.”
The coach spoke in detail about Galeno: “As a coach, I have to know everything. I spoke with Sergio Conceicao, Ruben Amorim, Roger Schmidt and Arthur Jorge… As coaches, they have unique information. I know that Galeno can be very useful for the national team, I really like his verticality and he is versatile.”
Martinez hopes to take his post at the 2030 World Cup
Roberto Martinez was asked about the handover of the 2030 World Cup to Portugal, Spain and Morocco and whether he would like to remain as national coach at that time: “I would like to. Hosting the first World Cup is a great joy for the Portuguese people. He will leave a unique legacy.”
Martinez hopes to take his post at the 2030 World Cup
Roberto Martinez was asked about the handover of the 2030 World Cup to Portugal, Spain and Morocco and whether he would like to remain as national coach at that time: “I would like to. Hosting the first World Cup is a great joy for the Portuguese people. He will leave a unique legacy.”
Author: João Moniz
Source: CM Jornal
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