Portugal treat Ukraine match as final, then will turn attention to North Macedonia
After a 3–2 defeat to Israel, Portugal say today’s game against Ukraine is decisive; they face North Macedonia on Tuesday.
Portugal insisted on Monday that their upcoming match with Ukraine is effectively a final, after a draining 3–2 defeat to Israel the day before. The team faces Ukraine today and then North Macedonia on Tuesday, meaning they could end up playing three tough matches in quick succession.
Libero Gonzalo Souza called the loss to Israel a missed opportunity but said the defeat should serve as a lesson rather than a blow to confidence.
"We had the first set in which we did almost everything right," Souza said, adding that the team lacked composure at the end of the match.
Souza argued the squad has already shown it can overcome superior opponents on paper, pointing to earlier surprise victories that fuel their belief going into the next games.
Fatigue is a major concern for Portugal: after an exhausting five-set encounter with Israel, they must recover quickly for today’s clash with Ukraine and then prepare for Tuesday’s meeting with North Macedonia.
Short-term focus
Portugal’s message was clear — they will treat the Ukraine game as decisive and postpone any considerations about the match with North Macedonia until afterward.
Photo: CEV.eu
