“Are you going to control the options for Ireland with Serbia in mind?”

“Does the game against Ireland give you peace of mind knowing that you have a small margin of error before the decisive match against Serbia?”

“Is there any kind of revenge in the game against Serbia that gives Portugal victory over a goal that Ronaldo did not validate in the away match?”

Part of the questions asked to Fernando Santos at the press conference to announce the squad for the matches between Ireland and Serbia focused on the crucial meeting with the Balkan national team, which is nearing the end of the group stage to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. With six points added in six games, Portugal are second in Group A, one point behind Serbia, only to play one more game and battle with the team from the corners. This means that, depending on the outcome of the game against Ireland, the national team may not even win the final match against Serbia, but Fernando Santos refuses to list the two games differently, which he says is the end.

“I have a game against Ireland in a little while. A month ago, I said that Portugal have four finals. Earlier, when Portugal went to play against Azerbaijan, he said that Portugal have five finals. We have already won three, we have two more, all we have to do is make them win wherever we want, in the World Cup final. We have a final to play on Thursday and I will pick [os jogadores] We can win this game if we think it is the best for the team. (…) This game against Ireland is really a final. We have to win it! ”Said the selector.

“I do not have a margin of error. I do not think so. Look at the results to see that this margin does not exist. Added.

In reply to another question, Fernando Santos insisted that Portugal had conceded a goal to Cristiano Ronaldo in the game in Serbia and that it would give him the victory, which should not be validated, only needed for the time being. He looked at the first of the two finals and launched an appeal: “I need to think about Ireland! If Serbia wants to ask me all these questions before the match, I will answer. But now let me think about Ireland, please. The game against Ireland is fundamental,” he concluded.