‘We have to focus on winning’ against Spain, says Portugal’s Santos. When Portugal hosts Spain in Braga on Tuesday, coach Fernando Santos declared that his squad would not accept a draw in order to go to the Nations League finals.
Spain lost at home to Switzerland on Saturday, while Portugal, the 2019 tournament’s inaugural champion, climbed to the top of Group A2 with a 4-0 victory over the Czech Republic.
The team of Santos currently has a two-point advantage over its neighbors going into the final group game.
‘We have to focus on winning’ against Spain, says Portugal’s Santos. We simply need to concentrate on winning rather than making it to the final four, he added.
“I want the players to approach Spain as they would any other opponent: on their merits. By doing that, we will always be moving in the right direction.”
Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot scored twice against the Czechs as Portugal bounced back from a defeat in Switzerland in June.
Santos has a near fully-fit squad to choose from, with Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix having returned to training after missing last weekend’s match.
Veteran centre-back Pepe is the only player originally in the initial squad missing with injury.
Portugal are building towards their opening World Cup fixture against Ghana on November 24, ahead of further Group H games with Uruguay and South Korea in Qatar.
FOR UPDATE ALERTS
JOIN 360MEDIA WHATSAPP GROUP
JOIN 360MEDIA TELEGRAM CHANNEL
JOIN 360MEDIA FACEBOOK GROUP
FOLLOW 360MEDIA ON TWITTER
Be the first to comment