World Cup 2022: Fernando Santos warns of the importance of Portugal winning the group
Coach Fernando Santos said, this Thursday, that Portugal’s priority is to win Group H and have one more day to prepare for the round of 16 meeting of the World Cup in Qatar, regardless of whether Brazil is the opponent.
“It is the most important factor. It’s very different to play three or four days apart. Neither me nor Tite [selecionador do Brasil] we are concerned about this and clearly that this 24-hour issue is more important [a mais]🇧🇷 We want to be in first place in the group, this is one of the most important aspects”, announced the Portuguese coach, in a press conference.
If the formation of the “quinas” wins the “poule”, being enough, from the outset, an equality against South Korea, by Paulo Bento, on Friday, it guaranteed the first place and the right to play the game on Tuesday round of 16, instead of Monday.
However, to avoid a possible confrontation with Brazil, the “canarinhos” also have to win Group G, not which are the leaders, since they only play with Cameroon after Portugal faces the South Koreans.
“I don’t have three [jogadores] and let’s see in relation to one more or the other. Players adopted here [no Qatar] in great shape, but playing every four days you end up feeling tired and that can lead to injuries”, he explained, when asked if he was going to do some kind of management on Friday, given that Portugal already has a guaranteed passport for the “eighths”.
Even so, he made it clear at the Qatar National Congress Center in Doha that “has the utmost confidence” in whom for a game, who resist difficulties to the Portuguese, who will not present themselves with the idea of making counterattacks.
“We know the difficulties that the game will bring, because it is a high quality opponent. In the two games they played it was tremendous, but the results did not follow. The principles are very clear and have a lot to do with what Paulo Bento is in terms of being, the different nuances of a fast and very objective team. It puts a lot of players in front, with raised sides and until the last minute they fight bravely ”, he analyzed.
The Portuguese team has four players at risk of missing the two “eighths” due to yellow cards. They are Rúben Dias, Rúben Neves, Bruno Fernandes and João Félix.
On Friday, Portugal will face South Korea, starting at 18:00 local time (15:00 in Lisbon), at Estádio Cidade da Educação, in Doha, in a match for the third round of Group H of the 2022 World Cup, which takes place until December 18 in Qatar.
The “quinas” team, which secured qualification for the round of 16 with the triumph over Uruguay (2-0), leads the group, with six points, three more than Ghana, second, and five more against South Koreans, trained by Paulo Bento, and Uruguayans, who, at the same time, face the Ghanaians.