Uruguay coach expects a balanced game and assesses Portugal’s quality
The Uruguayan football coach, Diego Alonso, anticipated, this Sunday, a “balanced game” against Portugal, “like what they have all been” at the 2022 World Cup, and praised the “variability” of options in the Portuguese team.
“We respect all opponents. We have already seen the balance that has been verified in the games in this World Cup. In fact, Portugal also had difficulties against Ghana. We want to win, that is why we are here, but we know that everyone gave their best and whatever result is possible”, he said, in a press conference.
Alonso, who was previewing the match for the second round of Group H, scheduled for Monday, highlighted the “deep knowledge” that Portuguese players have of each other, combined with the hope of Fernando Santos at the head of the “quinas” team.
“They have great variability in the game, they are a complete team, very good. In addition to all the individualities they have, they also have a coach who has been leading them for a long time. But we also have our weapons, our virtues, which make us equally dangerous,” said the 47-year-old former footballer, who played for clubs like Valencia, Atlético de Madrid or Peñarol.
Diego Alonso, who in last year’s final replaced the legendary Óscar Tabárez at the helm of the charruas, competed even if there was any point of comparison with the duel between the two in the Mundial2018, in which the Uruguayans won by 2-1 and eliminated the formation. lusa in the round of 16.
“All games have different stories. I don’t believe this game will be the same. There are many different players at that time. We will try to be competitive and win a game that will certainly be very balanced”, he assumed, considering that having Sportinguistas Coates and Ugarte , and former Benfica player Darwin Núñez available “is not an advantage” in terms of knowledge about the Portuguese team.
Portugal and Uruguay will play on Monday, at 22:00 local time (19:00 in mainland Portugal), at Estádio de Lusail, in a match for the second round of Group H of the 2022 World Cup.
The team from the corners, which beat Ghana (3-2), in the debut, led the group, with three points, ahead of South Korea, Paulo Bento, and Uruguay, both with one point, while the Ghanaians, who face the South Koreans on the same day, follow zero.
The 22nd edition of the World Cup will take place on December 18th, in Qatar.