Portugal have a point to prove at Confederations Cup
NEWDELHI:A major title is generally enough to silence critics, but that was certainly not the case for Portugal when they won their maiden European Championship in 2016.
Not winning a single group league game, Portugal then took the quarterfinals and semifinals to penalties. In the final against France, it was an ultra defensive show from the 2004 finalists who lost their charismatic skipper within 20 minutes of the match.
The game was finally decided by a deflected long-range effort from substitute Eder which handed Portugal the first major title in their football history but fans were not impressed.
It was not long before a majority of them started calling Portugal ‘undeserving’ winners. Almost a year has passed since then and all eyes will once again be on the Euro champions when they compete in their first ever FIFA Confederations Cup competition.
The eight-team competition, comprising world champions Germany, Portugal, South American champions Chile, Asian champions Australia, Oceania’s New Zealand, African Nations Cup winners Cameroon, Concacaf champions Mexico and hosts Russia starts on Saturday.
WORLD CUP HOPES Portugal did not reach Russia in high spirits. They are currently second in the World Cup 2018 qualifying group, and with four match days to go, it is bound to go down to the wire.
It has been a surprisingly subdued campaign as it was expected that they will comfortably qualify after drawing Latvia, Hungary and Switzerland in their group.But a heavy defeat against the Swiss has turned the situation on its head and they need to win their remaining matches as only the group winners are granted direct qualification. The pressure is considerable in this scenario and it was clear from Portugal coach Fernando Santos’ claim that the Confederations Cup “does not matter at all”.
“It will not do me any harm, but, at the moment, Confederations Cup matters zero,” he told a news conference. “I am interested in preparing very well for the qualifiers.”
Those were indeed strong words from Santos, but his team selection suggests otherwise. Portugal will be at full strength when against Mexico in their first match. Familiar faces from the Euro victory, and even Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently won the Champions League with Real Madrid, haven’t been rested.
Portugal will be determined to prove their critics wrong. A win in the FIFA Confederations Cup can strengthen their position as a new football powerhouse.