Published 19.02
A morning on the beach in Florida has become the talk of Portugal’s national team.
The players fight back against bad criticism.
– What we did is completely normal, says center back star Rúben Dias.
Portugal failed to win its World Cup opener against Congo-Kinshasa and the star-studded national team is in question ahead of Tuesday’s match against Uzbekistan.
Portugal’s 1-1 match against Congo-Kinshasa has been analyzed in detail and the pre-match upload has also been in focus. Both newspapers and supporters have questioned the national team’s decision to go to the beach.
The players themselves are annoyed by the criticism.
The players fight back
Midfielder Matheus Nunes says the swimming was part of the plan to adjust to the heat and humidity.
– We will not spend more time on the beach than on the training ground, says Nunes according to UOL.
Teammate Bruno Fernandes agrees.
– If we hadn’t been to the beach, we would have had to stay in the hotel room, which is probably not the best for our physical status, says Fernandes.
Dias roars
Manchester City full-back Rúben Dias, who missed the opener due to injury, lashed out at the Portuguese journalists at Friday’s press conference.
– I think that this should never have become an issue at all, and that it did anyway is largely your fault, says Dias.
According to Dias, the bathing criticism is due to the newspapers writing about the players’ bathing in the wrong way.
– I think what we did is completely normal. In fact, I think it’s more than normal – I think it was beneficial for all of us,” said Dias.
He pays tribute to national team captain Roberto Martínez, who allowed the players to bathe.
– The national team captain wasn’t afraid to do it, even though he knew you would react the way you did. I take my hat off to him, says Dias.
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