Portugal defender: 'Meeting Vietnam is like playing in the final'

* Vietnam - Portugal: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, on MetaSports.

"Vietnam is a difficult opponent to play, never give up in any match. We are studying the opponent, practicing carefully so that the whole team can achieve the best performance when meeting Vietnam," Gomes said. Despotor newspaper.

This is the first time Portugal has participated in the Women's World Cup. In the opening match, Diana Gomes and her teammates played well and only lost to the Dutch runner-up 0-1 from a set piece, when midfielder Stefanie van der Gragt headed home after a corner.

"It wasn't the result we wanted. But the team had its lessons too," she said. "We will improve the details of the team that did not do well against the Netherlands, and promote the good points, towards the match against Vietnam. Now everything is a new page. Portugal must focus on the previous matches. The team still has two matches and we want to win them all."

Gomes was born in 1998, currently plays for Sevilla in Spain. She can play both as a central defender and as a midfielder, joining the Portuguese team since 2017, playing 31 matches.

"For us, every match is a final now, whether it's Vietnam or anyone else. But the team will go out on the field with no fear. We're not afraid to go forward, telling each other 'let's fight them, there's no opponent. No one is better than me,'" Gomes emphasized.

According to Gomes, Portugal can flexibly switch between the two formations 3-5-2 or 4-3-3, with a slight change in the central midfield position. She added: "I am comfortable no matter which formation Portugal plays. I am always ready to help the team in the best way, no matter what position it plays. The tactics are chosen by coach Francisco Neto, Our players' task is to prepare carefully, together to show the best in each match. Portugal always strives every game, every match is like a final."

The match between Portugal and Vietnam on May 27 will take place at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton City, New Zealand. Gomes and his teammates have good memories on this field when they beat Cameroon 3-2 in the intercontinental play-off to win tickets to the World Cup for the first time.

"We made history at Waikato. It's great to be back here. Of course, we want to end the match against Vietnam with the joy of winning, like when we beat Cameroon in the play-off," Trung said. added the Portuguese guard.

Today is Diana Gomes' 25th birthday. She said celebrating her birthday with the team she considers her second family while attending the World Cup is "every player's dream".