2023-10-11 10:44:41
The clearance is already there. This Wednesday, Portugal will face the Armenian team for the second time in a row and can take another big step towards qualifying for the 2024 World Cup. After the triumph in Yerevan, it is in Póvoa de Varzim that the team from Jorge Braz is looking for three more points.
The first game was full of goals and saw a late recovery from the Armenians that almost put the Portuguese victory at risk. A scare that Jorge Braz and the players will certainly not want to repeat, so it is important to come out strong again, but above all keep concentration levels high throughout the 40 minutes of play.
Although a victory still does not guarantee anything in mathematical terms, the truth is that Portugal is very well placed to, in the worst case scenario, be present in the play-off while one of the best runners-up. Even so, it will certainly be the Portuguese team’s desire to resolve the issue of qualification as quickly as possible.
The game with Armenia won’t do it, but a victory in this duel opens the door for the next clash against Finland to take on decisive features and could see Portugal already qualified for the last clash with Georgia. The Georgians are the current runners-up, they only lost against Portugal and are waiting for a slip-up from the corner team to reshuffle the group’s scores. A mistake that Portugal will try to never happen, starting on Wednesday night in Poveiro territory.
Jorge Braz in direct speech
Preview: «We always want to improve, every day. However, the way the match against Armenia ended doesn’t mean we played a bad game. We had a moment when we weren’t so good in an aspect that we usually do excellently, which is five to four. The opponent’s approach may be different. They will want to stay in the game, they will manage their playing time according to what is happening. Armenia will try to fight for points to see if they still have a chance of qualifying. They will play with their weapons, betting on the goalkeeper’s rise to the offensive process. I foresee a game with a strong strategic side».
Strategy: «We have to be Portugal. We have to be pressing, conditioning and taking initiative in the defensive process, as we like. Even without the ball, we have to condition these spaces. Cause errors. When we analyzed the game, we saw that Armenia made mistakes and we were able to take advantage. One of those moves resulted in a goal for us. We need to do it more often and more aggressively. The focus and commitment are excellent. Sometimes we make mistakes or have hesitations, but from the point of view of belief, attitude and commitment, I am very happy with the behavior of each of them».
Accounts: «We don’t like to look at others. Looking at us and qualifying means looking at six games and six wins. There are 18 points and that is our goal. This is the path, game by game, from three to three points. So far the points have all fallen our way. This Wednesday we have one more game and we want another victory. We want to reach December and the end of the Elite Round with 18 points».
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