“Expectations are high for any competition in which Portugal enters roller hockey. We are going as world champions, which is not an added weight, but a huge pride to be able to play the European at home as world champions and we are going with the objective of growing during the competition so that we can reach the final and win it, if possible”, he told the Lusa João Rodrigues agency.

The team captain points to Spain as Portugal’s main opponents, but stresses that Italy and France will also present two very strong teams that “can perfectly interfere in this fight”.

“It’s going to be a very interesting European, where we have to be as close as possible to being perfect”, he stressed.

The 2021 edition of the European roller hockey championship takes place from 14 to 20 November, in Paredes, in which six teams participate, which first play against each other, in a group stage, disputing the first two in the final.

João Rodrigues stressed that Portugal is experiencing a good moment in hockey, stressing that the main clubs have invested in the sport and that even teams that do not have football affiliation “have completely full rings” and this “indicates that hockey in Portugal is going through a big moment “.

Girão waiting for a lot of support

“We have been getting more recognition from the public in Portugal and we would like this to be extended to more countries and for that we needed all the support of the international federations and for there to be greater cooperation between all bodies”, said, in turn, the goalkeeper of the national team Ângelo Girão.

With four teams in the “final four” of the last European League and with pavilions full of people to watch hockey matches, Ângelo Girão believes that the environment in Portugal is “prosper”, considering only that it is necessary to capitalize on this and bet on , especially with international level level.

For the European Championship, the goalkeeper awaits the “always full” pavilion and repeats that it happened, also playing at home, in Oliveira de Azeméis, in 2016, with the conquest of the title, against Italy.

“We had phenomenal support and that’s what we want now, but we also have to do our part on the field and that’s what we’re preparing for.“, He said.