The struggles continued for Portugal’s roller hockey team this Tuesday. Following a tough loss to Italy, they fell again, this time 3-1 against France. This defeat happened during the second match day of the European Championship. Head coach Paulo Freitas acknowledged France earned their win. However, he refused to question his players’ commitment on the rink.
Freitas saw a fair victory for the French side. “They were more practical than us,” he admitted after the game. He insisted his team’s effort was never in doubt. “You can only not accuse us of a lack of commitment,” he stated. Even though they often played with passion, their execution wasn’t always top-notch. They played “more with heart,” he explained.
Before the tournament, Portugal had a run of good results in warm-up games. This recent downturn was unexpected for the squad. “This situation is not normal,” Freitas explained. He felt the team once again put themselves in a tough spot. They struggled to control the scoreline. Players tried to fix problems on their own instead of working together.
Just like after Monday’s game, the coach gave his team a deadline. “We will try to mourn until midnight,” he said. After that, all focus shifts to Wednesday’s big match. Tomorrow brings a classic showdown: Portugal versus Spain. That game is always a fierce contest, regardless of the stakes.
Freitas senses there’s a kind of “blockage” affecting his team. He knows they might need to solve this mental hurdle quickly. Despite the current difficulties, his faith in the players remains strong. “I have total unwavering confidence in the value of the players,” he shared. He fully believes in their ability to turn the situation around.