Lisbon, Portugal – As di World Cup qualifier dey approach, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez no hide im admiration for Seamus Coleman, di Donegal man wey get serious skills. Martinez, wey don work with Coleman for three seasons when di player dey for Everton, gree say e no fit stop to talk about di guy virtues. “How long have you got?” Martinez yarn as dem ask am about Coleman.
For 2013/14 season, according to Martinez, Coleman na di best right-back for di Premier League by far. “E get incredible capacity to show for di final third, and e sabi defend one-on-one well well.” Di guy get leadership skills wey gree am captain material from di start. Martinez gree say him dey proud of Coleman, as di player still dey shine under di Everton umbrella and still dey represent Ireland national team.
As Cristiano Ronaldo dey lead di show, di Portugal team don begin light training for their fancy base wey dem call ‘Football City‘. Dis na di same ground wey Celtic’s Lisbon Lions carry European Cup go home for 1967. Dem dey ranked fifth for di world now and no doubt, dem go be serious contenders to grab di World Cup next summer.
Portugal don already chop two wins (5-0 against Armenia and 3-2 against Hungary), so dem dey look to top Group F. But, according to Martinez, “we no fit underestimate Ireland; e go be difficult match”. Dis no be small wahala, as di Irish side don show dem as tough competition since their last clash.
Bruno Fernandes, di Manchester United midfielder, also don warn im teammates say make dem no slack for Ireland physical style. “Them dey very strong defensively. No be joke,” Fernandes yarn. “We need to win our duels, and dem sabi collect second balls. If we give dem space, na so trouble go start.”
Di match go happen for Estadio Jose Alvalade, home of Sporting CP, and di whole place don sell out since days ago. Dis go be di first home match since di obodo heartbreak of Diogo Jota wey pass away. Martinez talk say, “For us, di tragedy don turn into mission. Diogo dreamt to win di World Cup, and we go carry dat dream along and keep am for our hearts.”
With no Joao Cancelo and Joao Neves due to injury, di squad no fit take chance on any front. Di atmosphere dey light as di game fast approach, and everyone dey eager to see how di match go play out. Portugal dey look forward to maintain dem winning streak, but di Irish team too dey prepare to show dem wetin dem fit do!
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