Follow-up – WAA
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez and midfielder Bernardo Silva have rejected criticism of the team ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final against France on Friday.
The British News Agency reported that the Portuguese team did not live up to expectations in its match against Slovenia in the round of 16, which ended in a penalty shootout victory, after Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score a penalty kick awarded in extra time.
“Criticism is part of the job,” Martinez said in press statements. “After 18 months (of his appointment), I think the criticism shows how passionate the fans are about the national team, and I accept that.”
He added: “I think we take too many risks. There are a lot of statistics that show that our team reaches the goal, but it is true that we need to score from the chances that are available to us.”
Silva was more forthright about claims that Portugal did not take enough risks, although he insisted that a goalless draw after 120 minutes was not a good experience for the fans.
He commented: “When June comes, for the World Cup or the European Championship, everyone thinks they are technical directors.”
He continued: “I do not agree when you say that we were not playing at a good level. We are one of the best eight teams in Europe. Reaching the quarter-finals means that we did our job properly.”
“Maybe it wasn’t a good show for people watching at home, but we’re doing an amazing job, otherwise we wouldn’t be in the quarter-finals,” he added.
The match will be a repeat of the 2016 final when Portugal broke French hearts by winning the tournament at the Stade de France.
But the French team won in the semi-finals of the 1984 and 2000 Euros and in the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup.
Source: Kora