National coach Fernando Santos believes Portugal are capable of winning Euro 2016 championship

Record ID: 103247

  • Title: National coach Fernando Santos believes Portugal are capable of winning Euro 2016 championship
  • Date: 17th May 2016
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (MAY 17, 2016) (REUTERS) PORTUGAL NATIONAL COACH FERNANDO SANTOS ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL NATIONAL COACH, FERNANDO SANTOS, SAYING: "The 23 players that I believe will be present in the Euro 2016 are: Rui Patricio, Anthony Lopes, Eduardo, Vieirinha, Cedric, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Jose Fonte, Eliseu, Raphael Guerreiro, William Carvalho, Danilo Pereira, Joao Moutinho, Renato Sanches, Adrien Silva, Andre Gomes, Joao Mario, Rafa Silva, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo and Eder." SCREEN SHOWING THE 23 PLAYERS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL NATIONAL COACH, FERNANDO SANTOS, SAYING: " I have no doubts that Cristiano is at this moment in his best condition and is preparing himself mental and physically to be present at the Champions League final but I'm also certain that he is also well prepared to be in the Euro because he has great ambitions for this Euro." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL NATIONAL COACH, FERNANDO SANTOS, SAYING: "I believe and we all will believe, that we can reach the final of the European championship and we can win it. It's not a matter of faith. It is a matter of belief. I believe that this is possible so we will work and do everything to achieve it." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL NATIONAL COACH, FERNANDO SANTOS, SAYING: "Ten players that never have participated in a final stage, some have participated in final stages but not formation levels, four that only once have participated. I think this shows clearly that we have here a mix of experience with youthful irreverence, not that the older ones don't have it, but I think that this proves that Portugal has a future." SANTOS LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2016 22:31
  • Keywords: Fernando Santos Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal
  • Location: LISBON, PORTUGAL
  • City: LISBON, PORTUGAL
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014I756PR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Portugal national coach Fernando Santos on Tuesday (May 17) announced his 23 player squad for the Euro 2016 championships in France.
    He told reporters in Lisbon that he believed his Portuguese side were capable of reaching the final of the European Championship and winning the title.
    "The 23 players that I believe will be present in the Euro 2016 are: Rui Patricio (Sporting), Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Eduardo (Dinamo Zagreb), Vieirinha (Wolfsburgo), Cedric (Southampton), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Carvalho (Monaco), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Eliseu (Benfica), Raphael Guerreiro (Lorient), William Carvalho (Sporting), Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Renato Sanches (Benfica), Adrien Silva (Sporting), Andre Gomes (Valencia) Joao Mario (Sporting), Rafa Silva (SC Braga), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Nani (Fenerbahce), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) e Eder (Lille)," Santos told reporters in Lisbon.
    Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo will not be present in the first week of training with his team-mates because he still have the Champions league final to play but Santos told reporters that believes that Ronaldo would be ready and arrive at the tournament with great ambition.
    "I have no doubts that Cristiano is at this moment in his best condition and is preparing himself mental and physically to be present at the Champions League final but I'm also certain that he is also well prepared to be in the Euro because he has great ambitions for this Euro," Santos said.
    Santos said Portugal will fight to win the Euro 2016 title and were fully capable of winning.
    "I believe and we all will believe that we can reach the final of the European championship and we can win it. It's not a matter of faith. It is a matter of belief. I believe that this is possible so we will work and do everything to achieve it," he said.
    He added that the squad was a good mix of youth and experience.
    Portugal have never won the title but were beaten by Greece in the 2004 final held in Lisbon.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register