Portugal Responds to Criticism with decisive Victory Over Denmark
Seleção Players and Coach Fire Back at critics After Nations League Thriller
LISBON, Portugal – Portugal delivered a resounding 5-2 victory against Denmark in a Nations League match, silencing recent criticism and securing a spot in the final four. The win was met with relief and defiance as players and coach Roberto Martínez addressed what they felt was unfair scrutiny.
Martínez Defends Team, Takes Aim at Critics
Roberto Martínez, the Portugal coach, responded sharply to a journalist’s question about “suffering” during the game. Visibly irritated by recent criticism,martínez retorted that if the journalist didn’t enjoy the highs and lows of football,perhaps he should consider a different profession. He highlighted Portugal’s remarkable record over the past two years, noting only two competitive losses in 28 games, one of which occurred after the team had already qualified for their group. “The Seleção is not for criticising the coach or to have a debate. It’s for us to be proud, to enjoy the players we have,” Martínez stated, emphasizing the special atmosphere within the team.
Trincão’s Brace Proves Decisive
forward francisco Trincão, who scored two crucial goals after coming on as a substitute, revealed that encouragement from both club and national team coaches motivated him to shoot more often. “I just had the chance to shoot. I have to shoot more often because I think I’ve got a good shot,” Trincão said. “They often ask me to do that, both at club level and here.” He added that the victory was the most important thing, and he was happy to contribute.
Silva: ”No Middle Ground in Football”
Midfielder bernardo Silva acknowledged the passionate nature of football, stating, “There’s no middle ground in football. We are used to it; it’s part of the game.” He agreed with Cristiano Ronaldo’s sentiment about unfair criticism, emphasizing that the team gave a “great response” after a disappointing game in Denmark. Silva also voiced his unwavering support for the coach, saying, “We’ll be with our coach until death.”
Conceição Echoes sentiment on Criticism
Winger Francisco Conceição echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that “critics are part of our profession,” especially when expectations are high for a team with the objective of winning every competition.
Looking Ahead
Portugal will face Germany in Germany in the final four of the Nations League. Trincão acknowledged the difficulty of all matches but expressed confidence in the team’s preparation. The victory against Denmark served as a statement of intent, proving Portugal’s resilience and determination to compete at the highest level.
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