The Portuguese squad completed their final training session on home soil today before departing for Euro 2012. The session took place at the Estádio da Luz, the scene of Saturday’s disappointing defeat to Turkey, and afterwards goalkeeper Beto met the press to discuss how the match has affected preparations ahead of the tournament.

“The performance was much better than the result. Turkey managed four or five shots and scored three goals. I was pleased with the display, not least because we tried things that we had not done before. It is true that we made mistakes, we are the first ones to admit it, but it is better to have made these mistakes now rather than on Saturday.” 

The third-choice goalkeeper went on to insist that getting these errors out of their system will ensure that the Portuguese players are better prepared once the tournament begins:

“Mistakes can always happen in sport. Nobody wants them to happen during the tournament so if they are going to happen it may as well be now. We are working every day to improve both individually and collectively to ensure that when we arrive at the Euros we are even stronger and do not make the same mistakes again.”  

Beto, who has spent this season on loan from Porto at Romanian side CFR Cluj where he won the league, did admit that while such defeats were hardly ideal preparation for a major tournament, the qualities that the squad have shown since getting together for their training camp provide plenty of reason for hope:

“If we can take the same spirit, heart and togetherness that we have shown over the last fifteen days onto the field of play then we can fight for victory in all three games. We are going to face up to Germany and look them straight in the eye; we desperately need a win to boost our confidence.” 

No pressure

Many have tipped Portugal for an early exit having been drawn in the same group as Germany and the Netherlands, but Beto believes that being in such a strong pool could actually have a positive effect on how Portugal go into the tournament:

“Portugal is not one of the two favourites, so we are not under any pressure. We are fully aware of what we can do. Of course we are determined to give a good account of ourselves, to go as far as possible, and to make all of those who believe in us very proud. We are carrying confidence and hope in our luggage.” 

The thirty-year-old goalkeeper clearly feels at home within the squad, despite going into the tournament with just two caps under his belt:

“I have a great relationship with all of the players. I am one of the oldest so I do like to speak with everybody, to give advice, to say my opinion, but above all I like everybody else want to help us to achieve our goals. There are twenty-three captains in this team. We all have a little bit of this in us.” 

The squad are due to meet the Portuguese president Cavaco Silva in Belem later this evening before flying out to Poland tonight. One hopes that when they return to Portugal it will be on the back of a more positive performance than that which sees them depart.

by Tom Clee