Portugal ready to face “very competitive” Belgium in the Nations League
The Portuguese women's football team has prepared several schemes to face a “very competitive” Belgium team , with a new coach, on Wednesday for the Nations League, coach Francisco Neto said this Tuesday.
“Above all, Belgium is very motivated, with a slightly different organisation to that of the previous coach. They have changed some dynamics. We can see that Belgium is still very competitive, full of good individual talent and experienced players in the international context ,” Neto told reporters.
On the day that marks 11 years in charge of the women's team, the coach highlighted the recent arrival of Elisabet Gunnarsdóttir to lead the Belgians, who on Wednesday host Portugal in the second round of group A3 of the Nations League.
“It’s always more complicated, in the sense that we like to know our opponents. We try to observe them and get a basic understanding of their opponents. When you only have one game, against Spain, in which we knew they would have less of the ball in the attacking organization. There’s always a big doubt, whether it was a strategy just for that game or something they want to present during this competition”, he explained.
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According to the coach, the preparation work, after the 1-1 draw with England, European champions, to open the competition, in Portimão, has been based on preparing “scenarios” that they believe they may encounter.
“The players have to understand and recognise who is the free player, if they are pressing us with three or two, if we have more or less advantages in the middle, on the outside”, she analysed, refusing to say whether the team will play in 4-4-2 or 3-5-2.
With a “strategy outlined”, Neto also showed himself to be “very calm” with “ the talent and intelligence of the players ” he leads, as they understand tactical changes before and during matches .
When asked about Telma Encarnação's absence against the English team, he confirmed that he left out the Sporting forward, who is returning from injury, “by technical choice” , taking the decision “based on her performance”.
“It will be a slightly different approach [to England]. (…) We have to be very focused when we lose. I think it will be a more balanced game. Belgium will want to have more of the ball,” he explained.
Dolores Silva also shared the team's motivation for a match in Leuven, against “a strong, very competitive team, which will try to put on a good performance at home”.
Expecting “a difficult game”, he wants the team to continue “playing like Portugal”, highlighting the growth in recent times and the good result, not losing, against England .
“We have shown that we are here on merit, we want to win and continue to grow, but with our feet firmly on the ground. This result and performance are worth nothing if we cannot, tomorrow [Wednesday], impose our game and get a positive result, and that means the three points,” he added.
After Kika Nazareth was dismissed due to injury on Sunday, forward Ana Capeta was also considered “not fit” by the FPF Health and Performance Unit and, therefore, dismissed from the national team's work, the organization reported.
The group led by coach Francisco Neto was reduced to 24 players.
On Wednesday, for the second round, the Portuguese team will face Belgium, with the match scheduled for 8:15 pm (7:15 pm in Lisbon), at the Den Dreef Stadium, in Leuven .
The group also includes world champions Spain, who beat Belgium at home in their debut (3-2), turning the score around after trailing by two goals.
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