CANCELO: Missing the Last Euros Due to Illness Was My Biggest Regret; Ronaldo Is an Eternal Leader

The Portuguese national team is set to face the Czech Republic in their opening Euro group match, and ahead of the game, right-back Joao Cancelo expressed his enduring disappointment at missing the previous edition of the tournament, stating that he aims to “respond” with his performances this time around.

During the pre-match press conference against the Czechs, Cancelo shared how not participating in the 2020 Euros affected him. He said, “I am 100% focused on the Portuguese team, and I have always dreamed of representing Portugal at the Euros. The 2020 Euros were unfair to me due to my illness, and now I want to respond. I had a great season, but physically, I couldn’t be there, which impacted me greatly. Regardless of the clubs I’ve played for, the national team will always come first because I play for the people who love me, whether it’s friendlies or major tournaments.”

When asked if this current Portuguese squad is the best in history, Cancelo replied, “It’s a physically strong team with many talented players, but it’s hard to say if it’s the strongest ever, considering the team that reached the final in 2004 and the one that won the championship in 2016, which wrote its name in Portuguese history. If we keep winning and achieve similar feats, we can also leave our mark in the records.”

Cancelo also praised his manager and captain: “Since Martinez took over, he has made me feel very good. He is close to the players, likes attacking football, and the team plays with great spectacle. He adapted quickly and has made significant progress. Ronaldo playing his sixth Euros? That’s a result of effort and talent combined, and he is our captain, our eternal leader.”