“This time we won’t have to use a calculator in the last cycle.” The statement from the Portuguese website “Record” tells the whole story of the Portugal team so far in the 2022 World Cup. After two victories, including a 0:2 over Uruguay this evening (Monday), the Selção reach the final round of the group stage with a calm mind and with the ticket to the round of 16 in their pocket. One point against South Korea in the final round will be enough to secure first place, while a one-goal loss will also be enough, but Ghana will at the same time beat Uruguay by two or more goals.
“Ebola” also celebrated the first time since 2006 that Portugal has won twice in a row in the World Cup: “This is a start similar to 1966 and 2006 (in both cases Portugal reached the semi-finals). She came with the right attitude and showed that she wants to close the story of the qualification already tonight “.
Watch a recap of Portugal’s 0:2 victory over Uruguay courtesy of Kaan 11 – the official broadcaster of the 2022 World Cup. Live broadcasts, recaps, statistics and more await you on the Kaan World Cup page
Both goals were signed by Bruno Fernandez, who received credit for the first goal that was initially attributed to Cristiano Ronaldo. The midfielder pushed to the box, and after it seemed that the striker was sliding the ball with his head on the way to the net, it turned out that he did not touch the ball at all.
Fernandez summed up the event and said: “I celebrated as if it was Ronaldo’s goal. It seemed he touched the ball, my goal was to give him a lift. It doesn’t matter who scored, the most important thing is that we won and we’re in the round of 16. Now what’s important is the next game, step by step “. Thanks to the duo today, Fernandez has been involved in eight goals in his last eight games in the national uniform – five goals and three assists – two of them in the first round against Ghana.
Coach Fernando Santos claimed that it was a “deserved victory” and added: “We passed the first stage, now we must continue to work to improve what needs improvement. The team is strong and united, on and off the field. Our goal is to bring happiness to the Portuguese people.”
Regarding the injured, he said: “I’m not a doctor. Our medical team will do the work and then we’ll see who can recover and who we can use. They will do everything to train the players.”
Goalkeeper Diego Costa, who made some impressive saves and kept a clean sheet: “The whole team worked well, we were efficient and united. We fought for each other, the energies were positive and everything worked out. What’s important is that we moved to the next stage. It’s better to move up from first place, of course, but the most important that we already have the ticket. We want to meet all our goals and give everything for the country.”