The national team defeated Switzerland tonight, with eight unanswered goals, in the first game of the Group Stage of the Nations Cup.
Despite having entered the rink putting strong pressure on the opponent, the Portuguese team found it difficult to break down the Swiss defense. Even with the game having practically only one direction, and with the best opportunities belonging to Portugal, the lack of effectiveness of the Portuguese team and the performance of the Swiss goalkeeper postponed the goals. Switzerland rarely reached the Portuguese area and, when they did, Xano Edo responded.
Everything changed three minutes into the break, following a triangulated play between Rafa, João Souto and Gonçalo Pinto, with the latter opening the scoring on his debut for the national team (1-0). With just under a minute and a half to go before the break, Switzerland saw the blue for a hook, but Jean-Pierre Vizio denied Gonçalo Alves the goal. Portugal took advantage of the situation of powerplaye, with assistance from Gonçalo Alves, Xavi Cardoso also made his debut, scoring from the corners to make it 2-0, 30 seconds before the break.
Portugal plays its second game tomorrow against the French team | ©Catarina Maria | FPP
In the second half, the lack of effectiveness of the first 25 minutes disappeared. Gonçalo Alves, face to face with the Swiss goalkeeper, lifted the ball and scored in the 23rd minute (3-0). With the “knot” already undone, João Rodrigues made it 4-0 in the next minute and Nuno Santos scored to make it 5-0, two minutes later.
In the 14th minute, a penalty was awarded in favor of Portugal and, this time, Gonçalo Alves did not forgive and scored twice in the encounter with a stickada very strong for 6-0. In the last five minutes, João Rodrigues also scored twice to make it 7-0 and Hélder Nunes closed the score at 8-0.
In the opinion of the captain, João Rodrigues, «Portugal started very well, they played a very serious game from the first second, we created countless chances to score and there was a lot of merit on the part of the Swiss goalkeeper who delayed the first goal for several minutes» , adding that «victory is a good way to start the Nations Cup and we are happy with what we presented today».
“Tomorrow will be a completely different story against a rival with different arguments, France, and we will rest now so we can be in good shape tomorrow to face this challenge,” he concluded.
João Rodrigues scored two of Portugal’s goals against Switzerland | Portugal plays its second game tomorrow against the French team | ©Catarina Maria | FPP
For the national coach, Paulo Freitas, this «was a game of great commitment on the part of the entire team» and explained that it can be divided «into two distinct parts: a first half where we were less effective, but there was a lot of quality game, and a second half where we lowered our quality a little, but we were much more effective and intelligent, to the point of knowing how to manage the moments and rhythms of the game».
Freitas revealed that he was «very satisfied with what we produced, I would say even depending on the work we did, a little surprised, with all the quality that was demonstrated, especially during the first half».
Portugal will return to the rink tomorrow, at 8pm, against the France team. Watch the games ELEVEN on DAZN and check out all the results and game sheets here.
