Flash quotes: 26 November

Flash quotes: 26 November

C4 9374
EHF / Courtney Gahan

BASEL - Comments from Portugal head coach José António Silva, line player Bebiana Sabino and left wing Carolina Nunes Monteiro (all POR) at a photoshoot at the St. Jakobshalle Stadion on Tuesday.

José António Silva (POR) - head coach

On the feeling in the team before the EURO begins:

“We have a lot of expectations about this competition, because for us, it’s the first time for all of us. Portugal have a long absence in this kind of tournaments.

“We’ll try do our best to increase the level of performance in handball of Portugal.”

On preparing mentally for the championship given it is a new experience for all involved:

“This is not a problem. Because it is the first time for us, we are highly motivated for the tournament and the girls, they have the right mentality for this kind of competition. Naturally, we have also some care about all the contexts, about all the pressure that exists, but I think we are prepared for the matches.”

On the first game, against Spain:

“It's a very difficult game for us. Like everybody knows, we are the outsiders of the group. We're trying to do our best, but always fighting for the victory.”

Bebiana Sabino (POR) - line player

On the feeling in the team before throw-off:

“We are a little bit anxious, but we are very happy to be here.”

On the group:

“We know the other teams are very strong. They participated in the last tournaments, the last European championship. We will try to do our best to show our handball is growing in Portugal, in the female gender. So, we'll try do our best, but we know the other — the opposition.”

On what she is looking forward to the most in this generation’s first major championship:

“We are making history for our country, so we will try to do better than the last participation. It's the second participation for Portugal, but for this group, it's our first participation, so we'll try to do history and do something better comparing to the last one.”

Carolina Nunes Monteiro (POR) - left wing

On Portugal’s goals at the EHF EURO:

“Firstly, it’s our — it’s my — first European Championship and for all of 17 players of Portugal, and it's important to get some experience in this competition. It's an amazing feeling to be here. Our goals — mostly [to be] competitive with tough teams, and that's it. Fight for the win, obviously, but stay the feet on the ground.”

On their first opponents, Spain:

“We saw the last two games of Spain against France and Czech Republic and, yeah, it's a lot of new players, but the quality, it stays there. It's a tough team.”

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