Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● Ex-president Badruddoza Chowdhury passes away      ● Killing during students' movement: 9 bodies to be exhumed in Sylhet      ● Malaysian prime minister leaves Dhaka for home      ● CA seeks Malaysian support for Bangladesh to be ASEAN dialogue partner      ● Malaysian PM assures of attention to 18,000 Bangladesh workers       ● Bid to kill Khaleda Zia: Sheikh Hasina among 113 sued      ● Thundershowers with 60 km/h wind likely to hit 17 regions      

Veteran Pepe defends Portugal, eyes second Euros triumph

Published : Sunday, 30 June, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 357
HARSEWINKEL, JUNE 29: Portugals veteran centre-back Pepe defended his teams performance thus far at Euro 2024 before Mondays last 16 clash with Slovenia.
The 2016 champions progressed as Group F winners but were shocked by debutants Georgia on Wednesday in a 2-0 defeat, while also only scraping a late 2-1 win against the Czech Republic in their opening match.
"I don know if youve had the chance to look at the statistics from the group stage -- Portugal are one of the best teams in terms of statistics," Pepe told reporters on Friday.
"From the first game to the last, the fans were always with us. The most important thing was the fact that, in the first game, against Czech Republic, we were losing and the fans kept supporting us.
"Maybe it was that confidence they had that made us turn the result around."
Pepe became the oldest ever player to feature at the competition against the Czechs, at 41 years old, a record he extended in the 3-0 win over Turkey, Portugals best display in Germany.
He made his Euros debut in 2008 and is playing at his fifth edition of the competition, which he won with Portugal eight years ago.
Pepe said although Portugal were in the trickier half of the draw -- along with Spain, Germany and France -- he did not care as long as the Selecao found a way to triumph.
"If I could choose... I would like to be champion again," said the former Real Madrid defender.
"With all due respect to the other teams, both on one side and the other, thats what we have.
"We know its going to be a very difficult journey, that its going to be tough, but we all have to stick together."
The second oldest outfield player in Euros history is Pepes superstar team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, who failed to score in three frustrating group stage appearances.
"Cristiano lives for goals, thats a fact, but have you seen his availability on the field to help the national team? Its incredible," continued Pepe.
"Hes the player with the most minutes in our team, at 39 years old. Hes doing very well, hell do very well for this final stage of the European Championship and I hope and Im sure that he will give us a lot of joy."
Pepe said he has not decided his future after Euro 2024 at international or club level, with his Porto contract expiring this summer, but revealed the secrets to his own longevity at the top of the game.
"(Its) my passion for football -- Ive said many times that its a privilege to be able to get up and do what I love most with a lot of concentration and competitiveness, which is what I have," explained Pepe.    —AFP


LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Swiatek splits with coach Wiktorowski
Finally beaten Madrid aiming for Villarreal rebound in La Liga
Top EU court finds against FIFA in key transfer market ruling
Rising Kenya athletics star Anyango fails doping test
FIFA defers decision on call to suspend Israel
Top seed Sabalenka stunned by Muchova in Beijing last eight
Ten Hag faces make-or-break trip to Aston Villa
Sinner not 'comfortable' as doping case clouds Shanghai campaign
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: info©dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝