“England is one of the best teams in Europe and the world. We know how difficult it will be in Friday’s game, but we are very confident and working very well,” said the 26-year-old goalkeeper during a press conference held at Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras.
In the first round, on Portuguese soil, the game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Inês Pereira, who played for Deportivo's Spanish team this year, predicting a “very competitive” game, and for that to happen, Portugal will have to perform at its best.
“Certainly, if we do what we did in the second half of the England game, good things will come of it and we will smile at the end. If we can compete at our best, it will be a very competitive game. We like to have possession of the ball and we will create a lot of danger for England. It will be down to us,” she predicted.
Coach Francisco Neto has opted to alternate in goal between Patrícia Morais and Inês Pereira, who has made no secret of her desire to be the starting option at Wembley on Friday.
“Everyone will want to play, whether it’s me or Patrícia [Morais]. It ends up being one of the most important and special stadiums to play in England. It’s up to me to work hard and be a starter,” she said.
Portugal has four points, in third place in Group A3 of the Nations League, behind European champions England, with seven, and Spain, which leads with nine, and ahead of Belgium, which has three.
If only Portugal would have a tenth of its soccer motivation and ambition, we would be the Nordic of the South.
By Diogo F. from Lisbon on 28 May 2025, 20:37