PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida: Portugal forward Joao Felix said on Monday that people back home jittery about the team’s form after an underwhelming group campaign needed to keep calm ahead of the World Cup knockout clash against Croatia in Toronto this week.
Concerns that the European powerhouse had lost its way surfaced after they followed a draw with DR Congo and a 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan with a goalless draw against Colombia in their last Group K game on Saturday, progressing to the last 32 in second place behind the South Americans.
Felix was asked what message he had for fans ahead of Thursday’s meeting with the Croatians, who reached the final in 2018 and the semis in Qatar four years ago.“They should stay calm,” he told reporters at the team training camp. “The guys here are calm. Drawing two matches doesn’t mean we’ve lost confidence or that people should start doubting us.“People just need to stay calm, just as we are calm and prepared for the match against Croatia. We’re very confident that we’re going to win, and we’ll do everything to get through to the next round.”
