Afonso Jesus sees Portugal “growing” with the European2022 – Observer
The player Afonso Jesus said this Tuesday that the Portuguese futsal team is “growing” with the European 2022, however, a game played” with Ukraine, in the last of group A.
“I don’t have a lot of experience in Europeans and Worlds, but the first game is usually difficult. We suffered a little bit with that, but we are growing with the competition, with two excellent games and results. It has been in the image of who we are, in the way we train and interact, in the image of Portugal”, he highlighted to journalists.
The ‘quinas’ team traveled this Tuesday to the Dutch city of Groningen, coming from Amsterdam, having trained in the late afternoon at the Windervanckhal pavilion, about 40 kilometers from the hotel where Portugal and other teams are installed.
“I am very happy to be in this space and to be able to achieve some of our goals. It’s a representation of Portugal, whatever dream to stop. At a collective level, I think we are doing atruth to our process and being Portugal”, expressed the Benfica fixed/wingman, with two goals scored in the tournament.
Ukraine European champions and qualification for the ‘quarters’ of the competition approved, but not closed.
“Ukraine is a very competitive team with very clear principles of play. They are aggressive and physically strong players. For Ukraine can do, more important is to focus and ours is important, in order to win”, which is more important.
To 24 years old, Afonso Jesus is one of the main faces of the new generation of Portuguese athletes that stands out in the country’s futsal, with eight goals in 28 caps in the service of the main team of Portugal, commanded by coach Jorge Braz.
“The youth teams give us the possibility of being very well prepared for AA. When we arrive, we always have fantastic support and are integrated in the best possible way. The people are very personable and always ready to help. Today, we can shine in this way, because there was someone who gave us a hand.
Portugal face the Ukrainian counterpart on Friday, in the third round of group A, at Martiniplaza, in Groningen, from 8:30 pm local time (7:30 pm in Lisbon), at the same time as the other group meeting, between the Netherlands and Serbia.
Isolated leaders, with six points, the Portuguese can ‘stamp’ the qualification even with a defeat, of up to four goals difference, being that they qualify automatically in case the Netherlands do not win their match. The hosts and the Ukrainians have three points, while the Serbs have yet to score in the competition.