Sep 02 - GFA Looks To ‘Build On’ First Half Of Portugal Performance
By Mark Viales in Porto
The Gibraltar FA will look to build on their first half performance against Portugal ahead of their debut in the World Cup against Greece on Tuesday night.
Jeff Wood, Gibraltar Head Coach, thought that his side defended well and attempted their passing game in the first half before fatigue kicked in in the final 20 minutes.
“In the second half it was a little bit harder for us because of the quality within the Portuguese team,” he said, before commenting on the compact defensive shape of the team. “We have been working on this shape and trying to keep things compact to get teams to go round the side of us and not through the middle, so in that respect it worked well.”
Wood said that he was disappointed with the flurry of goals conceded in six minutes, considering the hard work done in 70 minutes to limit Portugal to two goals.
“That is the disappointing aspect because, in a team point of view, I thought that our shape, the way that we played and our game-plan was good, but you cannot legislate for individual errors,” he said. “We are disappointed to lose 5-0, but it was the European Champions and for probably 70 minutes we did as well as we thought we could do and then we conceded three late goals down to individual errors. Their players know that they were in a game. The scoreline suggests that they weren’t but i think that they know that they needed a bit more to get a good result.”
The match was always going to be difficult with Portugal playing their first match since winning the European Championship, touting the country with the prestigious trophy.
“It was always going to be a big night for them and they obviously wanted to do well. I thought that we coped well in the first half but they have some tremendous players and it is really difficult to play against them,” he said. “Without dwelling on the result too much, our players were not match fit and have not played a competitive game since May, so to come here and do what they did is tremendous.”
Tiredness took its toll at the end and we need to look at this as part of our preparation for Tuesday. They are a tremendous side with great players and a great coach and i am sure that they will go on to do good things in the World Cup.
Regarding fitness levels within the squad ahead to the match next Tuesday, Wood was adamant that there was still some way to go.
“We have worked really hard since we came to Portugal on Sunday and we have tried to get to the level that we want them to,” he said. “At the moment, in terms of fitness, the players are only capable of playing 60 minutes, so we made some subs and brought in some young players. It is great for them to get an opportunity against the European Champions.”
Mikey Yome’s cameo performance off the bench led to a couple of late chances for Team 54 and he had a glorious chance to reduce the deficit pleased Wood as well as Joseph Chipolina in an unfamiliar role.
“We know Joseph and what he is capable of. It is almost like wherever you play him, you know that you will get a performance out of him. Mikey is a promising young player who will run the channels and put people under pressure. He is one for the future.”
In the Portuguese post match press conference, dominated mostly by the national side’s upcoming World Cup fixtures, head coach Fernando Santos gave credit to Gibraltar’s performance.
“They tried to resist as much as could and the fact that we did not score in first few led to more enthusiasm in the Gibraltar defence,” he said. “Credit to them for not conceding -many goals in the first half- but we did not play as well as well as we could.”
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