Coach says Portugal is stronger than in qualifying
PPortugal and the USA dispute, on Friday, the last place in the tournament, after both won the first games of the repechage, against Hong Kong and Kenya, in a meeting in which the ‘wolves’ have to “be at 100%” to take of defeating an opponent who has been in the last six World Cups.
“What I am sure of today is that we are much better prepared now than we were during the Six Nations tournament, where we had important absences due to injury or covid-19. Now, in Dubai, we were all together in these two weeks, we are confident and together we can reach the goal”, said the technician, in a press conference held through the digital platform.
Lagisquet’s statement ‘came out’ when he commented on the importance of Friday’s meeting for some players, who have, against the USA, a unique opportunity to be present in a World Cup.
The coach recognized that “for some players, this may be the last game” for the Portuguese national team, but ‘threw’ this ‘agoiro’ to the opponent’s side.
“Portugal has quality youngsters and may have more games like this, decisive, in the future. I hope they have other opportunities to qualify for a World Cup. But, for some players, yes, this could be the last opportunity. I hope it is not the last game for them, but for those who are in the same situation in the USA”, he shot.
One of the players who could be at ‘end of line’ is Mike Tadjer, who showed confidence in the youth of the group to secure the goal, with the help of the most experienced, without hiding the importance that the game assumes in his career, which includes several years in the Top 14 in France.
“This is an opportunity that doesn’t come up often in a player’s career. Yes, it’s the most important game of my life! We’re confident, we have a good group and we’re going to give everything to reach our goal on Friday”, said the player born in France, with Portuguese ancestry.
According to the talonador, the ‘wolves’ are aware that the meeting with the ‘eagles’ “will be tougher and more disputed in every centimeter of terrain than the previous ones”, against Hong Kong and Kenya, meetings that will allow the selection “gain confidence”.
The African and Asian teams were also defeated by the USA, in meetings that allowed the Portuguese team to “see the strategy” of the opponent, with the suspicion that “maybe there is a surprise” to present on Friday. Therefore, the focus is on the Portuguese team itself.
“We’re going to play the game we’re used to, with creativity, speed and the certainty that we can also play well with the forwards. The objective will be to try not to show our weaknesses, which will be difficult”, warned Lagisquet.
Portugal and the USA face each other on Friday, at 3:30 pm, in the third and final round of the final play-off tournament for the 2023 France World Cup, which is assumed to be an autonomous final, with the two teams tied at the top of the ranking of proves that assigns the last vacancy.
The Portuguese team ‘only’ need to win or draw to return to a World Cup, next year, 16 years after the historic participation of the ‘wolves’ in the 2007 World Cup, also in France.