The goalkeeper André Sousa believes today that the difference between the Portuguese futsal team and the Spanish counterpart is not so big, expecting a match “decided in the parades”, in the ‘quarters’ of the World Cup.
“I think that, a few years ago, the difference between the two teams could have been greater. Today, I don’t think there is that difference. It will definitely be a balanced game, which will be decided in the parades. The most competitive team, with the most positive mentality and the most winning, will emerge victorious from the match”, he stressed, in a statement to the official website of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), after arriving in Vilnius.
André Sousa believes that the team coached by Jorge Braz is making a tournament “growing” and called for the maintenance of the standards exhibited during the Iberian duel, in the rerun of the 2018 European final, won by the ‘quinas’ team.
“We have been doing a World Cup growing at an exhibitional level. I think we are presenting ourselves better and better and the idea is to maintain these exhibition standards, as that is the only way we will be able to beat a strong national team, such as the Spanish one”, indicated.
The 35-year-old Benfica player joined the group only on the eve of the match to Lithuania, after a month of internship divided between Rio Maior and Viseu, due to infection by the new coronavirus, which causes the covid-19 disease, contracted by Edu Sousa.
“It is important to contextualize and perceive a reality. I understand my position and I’m here to help, both on and off the field. I have not been an option, which is completely understandable, and I will help, both on and off the field. I’ll be here to help the group keep our goals intact and strong, as we’ve been doing so far ”, stressed André Sousa, who has been absent from the game sheets.
Almost a total of 100 international caps for the national team – he has 97 games -, André Sousa pointed out that the experience helps him to deal with the good and bad moments, as well as “calm, tranquility and the perception that this is all part of the sport” .
The Portuguese delegation traveled today from Kaunas, where they beat Serbia 4-3, after extra time, in the round of 16 of the World Cup, to the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, the city that will host the quarters game against Spain, who beat the Czech Republic, 5-2.
Even today, the European champions carry out the official training at the Arena Vilnius, which serves as an adaptation to the venue of the match, scheduled for Monday, at 17:30 (15:30 in Lisbon), with refereeing by Mohamed Hassan (Egypt) and Jorge Hernández (El Salvador).