Portugal’s U17 national team is approaching its upcoming World Cup match against Morocco with “maximum seriousness,” according to striker Yoan Pereira, aiming to secure another victory in the tournament.
Pereira stated that Portugal is committed to securing three more points. He described Morocco as “a very strong, consistent team.”
The match is scheduled for Thursday at 3:30 p.m. local time in Qatar. This follows Portugal’s dominant 6-1 opening win against New Caledonia.
During their first match, the team initially fell behind. However, they recovered to achieve a decisive victory.
Pereira recounted the coach’s message during that game. “The coach said we were playing well, that we were on top of the game, that their goal shouldn’t influence us,” Pereira said, adding, “we should continue to be on top, and that’s what we did.”
He clarified the team’s mindset. “It wasn’t pressure; we were anxious for the game, but we were on top and won the game,” the international player explained.
The Portuguese squad is coached by former footballer Bino Maçães. They are competing in Group B of the U17 World Cup.
After facing New Caledonia and Morocco, Portugal will play Japan on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. local time in Qatar.
The tournament in Qatar will see the top two teams from each of the 12 groups advance. Eight best third-placed teams will also move on to the round of 32. The competition concludes with the final and third-place match on November 27.