Paulo Freitas isn’t sugarcoating things. After a tough run, the national team coach declared his squad will “compete like animals” in their upcoming quarter-final match. This defiant stance comes after Portugal suffered its third straight loss in the European Championship group stage. Their latest defeat was against Spain.
The team’s struggles in Lordelo have been clear. Freitas looked back at these defeats, questioning a hypothetical better scenario. He pointed to the game against Italy as a turning point. Portugal played well then, but they couldn’t score enough. That match was significant, especially playing at home with a packed crowd and players’ families watching. Some players also have less experience with the national side. After that, they met a strong French team. Freitas had previously predicted four teams would fight for the title. He called the France game a bad one, saying they left themselves open too often. This also hurt their mental game. While not happy with the results, he found satisfaction in other aspects.
Despite the current mood not being great, Freitas is clear: the European Championship isn’t over yet for his team. He promised a better spirit soon. “Tomorrow will be better,” he declared, “we will fight like animals against Andorra.” This upcoming match is indeed a quarter-final clash. After that, he added, “we’ll see what happens on Friday.”
Freitas didn’t hold back when addressing anonymous critics. He passionately defended his players, calling them “a hell of a group” who have dealt with “a lot of disrespect.” He stressed their pride in representing the country. The coach believes his athletes need more confidence. They have a game plan to follow, but he insisted they must never lose their true style. Freitas called out “malicious people” and “a lack of respect,” especially noting the constant negativity from anonymous users on social media. “No one is more frustrated than us,” he concluded.
A Rival’s View
Martí Casas, Spain’s top scorer with two of his team’s three goals against Portugal, shared his thoughts. He believes Portugal still has a strong voice in this European Championship. Casas described their match as balanced, with both teams eager to win. Spain started well, he explained, and secured the victory through small details. He even admitted the game could have gone either way. Spain aims to improve with each match.
Casas noted his team wanted to reach the quarter-finals feeling good. Their focus now shifts to Austria, then they will consider the next steps. As reigning champions, Spain feels good. However, Casas acknowledged Portugal’s home advantage, which brings a “weight of favoritism.” He added that Portugal has many young talents, and his team is satisfied with their own performance.