“Cristiano and Pepe are examples of Portuguese football. We need them to pass on all the experience and wisdom to the youngest,” Roberto Martinez, national coach, said this Friday at the start of Saturday’s match (19:45) with Bosnia, referring to the Euro 2024 qualifying stage.
The Spanish coach surprised himself by speaking in very acceptable Portuguese, indicating that he had worked hard to learn the language of the country that welcomed him. Faced with the new reality of Ronaldo while playing in Saudi Arabia, Martinez put it this way: “Playing outside of Europe sometimes gives you an edge over playing for the national team. We have three views of a player: personality, experience and commitment. The commitment to Cristiano is absolute. This is an example for the dressing room.”
The coach also assured that Diogo Costa is the number 1 goalkeeper of the selection. He downplayed João Mário’s resignation and said there were “a lot of new players” in Portugal. He also explained, speaking of the talent of the national team, that his mission “is to make individual talent a balanced and compensated team.”
Midfielder Bruno Fernandes ensures he is ready for today’s game despite the delay in the season. “Fatigue will have to wait two more games,” he said. Gonzalo Ramos was fired from the squad due to a right thigh injury.
Portugal are top of Group J and will play again on Tuesday in Iceland.
Author: Mario Pereira
Source: CM Jornal
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