From unpredictable France to Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe comparisons: what Nuno Mendes told reporters

Defender Nuno Mendes said on Wednesday that “anything can be expected” from France on Friday and assured that Portugal will be prepared and motivated for the Euro 2024 quarter-final.

“I think this is a team we can expect everything from. They have good players who play for the best teams in Europe. We will be ready. We are more focused on doing what we have to do and improving on what we did not do so well against Slovenia,” said Nuno Mendes.

The Paris Saint-Germain player spoke to reporters at a press conference in Marienfeld, Germany, minutes before the national team’s latest training session at their headquarters on German soil.

“After this win (against Slovenia), we became more confident. We did not want to go to penalties, but we managed to win the game. We are all motivated. This is a big game, in which we want to bring a lot of strength. joy. We will do everything possible to make it happen,” he emphasized.

Nuno Mendes said he was “more than fine” after a season in which he had several physical problems at Paris Saint-Germain and drew comparisons between Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal captain, and Kylian Mbappe, the great star of the French team and also captain of the Blues.

“They are great players of a high level who can make a difference at any moment. I shared the dressing room with both of them and it was a pleasure to play with Mbappe and to play with Cristiano. They are incredible, from moment to moment they will make a difference, but we are ready, let’s prepare to play our best,” he said.

Faced with only one choice if he were the coach, the 22-year-old defender took no chances.

“It’s a difficult question. I think it’s a better question to ask the coach. I’m a player. If I were the coach, I’d choose both. But I think the coach knows better how to answer,” he joked.

Mendes also highlighted coach Roberto Martinez’s relationship with the Portuguese players and highlighted the “team spirit” fostered by the Spanish coach.

“We are a family here and anything he can do to keep the players well, both on and off the pitch, is what characterises him the most. Knowing the mental state of the player. He works well on that and I think we are all ready for the games and training,” he explained.

Despite the extra time against Slovenia, the Portuguese assured that the entire team will be 100% ready for Friday’s game in Hamburg.

The Portugal-France match will kick off at 21:00 local time (20:00 in Lisbon) at the Volksparkstadion. It will be refereed by Englishman Michael Oliver.