The roar from the opening match of the U19 Futsal European Championship still echoes. Portugal, the defending champions, began their title defense with a big victory. Now, head coach José Luís Mendes has his eyes fixed on the next step: securing a spot in the semi-finals. That chance comes Monday, in a crucial game against Ukraine.
Mendes isn’t underestimating the challenge. He called the upcoming match “extremely difficult.” He respects Ukraine as “a very competitive team” with “good players.” The plan is clear: his squad needs good rest. They must prepare well for the next day’s game. He hopes they can approach it calmer than their first outing. His ultimate goal is to “seal the passport to the semi-finals.” He also reflected on their opening win against Italy, noting it was a fair result.
Looking back at that first game, Mendes saw a team that grew into it. He admitted they “didn’t start well,” showing some hesitation. This allowed Italy a few scoring chances early on. However, Portugal found their rhythm after about “eight or ten minutes.” The second half showed steady improvement.
Player Diogo Sousa also shared his thoughts after the victory. He was happy with the outcome. But he keeps both feet on the ground. He’s working to keep the team’s excitement in check. “We can’t be fooled after this result,” Sousa wisely stated. He stressed the importance of continued hard work. He insisted that against Ukraine, they must play with the “same rhythm,” “same intensity,” and “same desire.” For him, that’s the only way to “go far” in the tournament.