Portugal’s World Cup preparation continued this Tuesday in Rio Maior. After John Matos served as the team’s spokesperson on the first day, Tiago Brito addressed the media this time.
The 33-year-old winger evaluated the initial phase of their training and discussed the challenges Portugal will face in the final stage in Uzbekistan. He also touched upon the upcoming decision to cut two players from the squad for the competition.
TIAGO BRITO’S COMMENTS
Start of training: “It’s always great to regroup. We’re very excited, aware, and mindful of the extensive preparation ahead. We’ve been through this before, but each competition brings new challenges, and we will certainly prepare ourselves as best as possible.”
Team focus: “The team has been developed over the years. Our main focus right now is on preparation. It’s going to be a long, demanding process, physically, technically, and tactically. If we prepare well, we can approach the group stage matches with a different perspective. We will be very concentrated during this preparation period.”
World Cup analysis: “I always emphasize teams that effectively take one game at a time. Teams with clear, short-term objectives tend to go far. This is our national team’s approach, and this situation will be no different. While we have ambition, we are also aware of the significant challenges ahead. It won’t be new for these players, but it will be tougher than before. We’ll give our all daily to win, but our focus is on preparing well before thinking about titles.”
Group stage opponents: “Futsal doesn’t have huge differences these days. The games will be very competitive, but it would be false humility to say Portugal isn’t a strong contender to advance past the group stage. It’s our duty, but we must be at our best to win these matches. Only a top-performing Portugal can clearly achieve this objective.”
Squad reduction: “Everyone starts at the same level, working towards a common goal. Each player’s unique qualities strengthen the team. Mentally, we’re prepared for the necessary reduction of the squad. We’ll all strive to make the National Coach’s decision as tough as possible. The increasing number of capable players is fantastic for Portuguese futsal.”