Pepe urges Portugal to regain hunger in battle against France
Defender’s team only need to draw in rerun of the Euro 2016 final to clinch their place in the last 16
22 June 2021 - 17:53
byRichard Martin
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Portugal will have to recover their intensity and hunger to beat France in their final Euro 2020 group game after a disappointing 4-2 defeat by Germany, defender Pepe said on Tuesday.
“We need to be what we have always been, a very combative team that plays with solidarity,” Pepe told a news conference before Wednesday’s game in Budapest, a rerun of the Euro 2016 final, which Portugal won 1-0 after extra time.
“After Germany we were very sad but we’ve thoroughly analysed our performance and we want to show what we’re worth. The last match wasn’t good, that’s true, but tomorrow we have the chance to prove our doubters wrong and play at our best level.”
Monday’s results mean the holders only need to draw against France to clinch their place in the last 16 while they could even qualify with a defeat, as long as Hungary do not beat Germany in the other Group F game.
Pepe is one of the few survivors of the team that won Euro 2016 with what many believe was an inferior squad, but he said the current team need to match their predecessor in work rate and desire.
“We need to play closer together, support each other. We’ve shown what Portugal is like, we have many quality players but we also work so hard together which is very important and what led us to be so respected across Europe,” he added.
“Whenever Germany got a corner against us they were really fired up and showed how much they wanted to beat us. We have to emulate that, we have to want it as much as Germany did to make it through.
“We need to stay calm, take a deep breath. If we put all our quality out there, we have every chance of winning.”
The defeat by Germany was the first time Portugal had conceded four times in 58 games under coach Fernando Santos and only the second time they had let in three goals.
“That was not the Portugal we all know,” Santos said, adding that his players were “sunk” after the game but he feels confident they will respond in the right way.
“We have experienced players and they don’t always win. There are times when the top teams don’t deal well with defeat but our players are used to reacting,” he said.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Pepe urges Portugal to regain hunger in battle against France
Defender’s team only need to draw in rerun of the Euro 2016 final to clinch their place in the last 16
Portugal will have to recover their intensity and hunger to beat France in their final Euro 2020 group game after a disappointing 4-2 defeat by Germany, defender Pepe said on Tuesday.
“We need to be what we have always been, a very combative team that plays with solidarity,” Pepe told a news conference before Wednesday’s game in Budapest, a rerun of the Euro 2016 final, which Portugal won 1-0 after extra time.
“After Germany we were very sad but we’ve thoroughly analysed our performance and we want to show what we’re worth. The last match wasn’t good, that’s true, but tomorrow we have the chance to prove our doubters wrong and play at our best level.”
Monday’s results mean the holders only need to draw against France to clinch their place in the last 16 while they could even qualify with a defeat, as long as Hungary do not beat Germany in the other Group F game.
Pepe is one of the few survivors of the team that won Euro 2016 with what many believe was an inferior squad, but he said the current team need to match their predecessor in work rate and desire.
“We need to play closer together, support each other. We’ve shown what Portugal is like, we have many quality players but we also work so hard together which is very important and what led us to be so respected across Europe,” he added.
“Whenever Germany got a corner against us they were really fired up and showed how much they wanted to beat us. We have to emulate that, we have to want it as much as Germany did to make it through.
“We need to stay calm, take a deep breath. If we put all our quality out there, we have every chance of winning.”
The defeat by Germany was the first time Portugal had conceded four times in 58 games under coach Fernando Santos and only the second time they had let in three goals.
“That was not the Portugal we all know,” Santos said, adding that his players were “sunk” after the game but he feels confident they will respond in the right way.
“We have experienced players and they don’t always win. There are times when the top teams don’t deal well with defeat but our players are used to reacting,” he said.
Reuters
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