Portugal beats Netherlands in first game as world champion
This Monday, Portugal defeated the Netherlands team by 3-0, in Almere, in the first game after winning the title in the World Cup.
The game, before the hosts of Euro2022, which Portugal is already preparing, is also the first without the presence of Ricardinho, who said goodbye to the national team, and the 100th internationalization of Fábio Felício.
In Top Sport Centrum de Almere, the Portuguese reached the break winning 1-0 and with some ascendant in the match.
Portugal were the first team to create danger by Miguel Ângelo, who shot at the post in the fourth minute. The Dutch responded three minutes later, forcing Edu to make a good save.
In the 16th minute, Tiago Brito opened the scoring, after which the Netherlands risked a five-for-four. Following a save by Edu, Pauleta came close to extending the advantage, but without success.
The world champions came in strong in the second half, with Pauleta taking a lot of danger into the opposing goal.
Miguel Ângelo, in the 22nd minute, with a crossed shot, made it 2-0 and Mário Freitas, assisted by Nilson in the 26th minute, deflected Manuel Kuijk’s ball into the back of the net, closing the result in 3-0.
For coach Jorge Braz, the match “was an excellent preparation game after the World Cup” and ends up with an “undeniable victory”.
Fábio Cecílio, the winger who made his debut for the national team on September 16, 2014, in a 5-0 victory against Croatia, reached 100 games in Almere with the main shirt of the “quinas”, entering in the seven minutes of match.
Cecílio, who is European and world champion, became the 15th futsal player to reach that record and the one who needed less time between his debut and the milestone of 100 caps (seven years, one month and 28 days).
Portugal returns to play with the Netherlands on Tuesday, in Zeist, on Campus KNVB.
The “quinas” team will defend, at Euro2022, the title of European champion won in 2018.
The European Championship will be played from January 19th to February 6th, 2022 at the Ziggo Dome, in Amsterdam, and at the MartiniPlaza, in Groningen.
Jorge Braz’s side are part of Group A alongside the Netherlands, Ukraine and the winners of the play-off between Serbia and Belarus, which will be announced on Wednesday.