Newly appointed Fenerbahçe (Turkkiye) coach Jose Mourinho, 61, has been in the news for his predictions for Euro 2024, which kicks off this week.
“It’s a matter of vocabulary,” Mourinho recently told Portugal’s O Jogu when asked to predict the winners of Euro 2024, “I think almost everyone thinks the same as me. Portugal, England, France,” he replied. “Germany and Spain are second,” he added.
Portugal, Mourinho’s homeland, will be joined by Cristiano Ronaldo (39, Al Nasr) and Pepe (41, Porto) as they attempt to repeat as champions eight years after winning the 2016 tournament in France. Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 last time out.
England, led by Harry Kane (31, Bayern Munich), 바카라사이트 will be looking to win their first ever title. The Three Lions are determined to erase the disappointment of finishing runners-up at the 2020 tournament.
France, led by Kylian Mbappe (26, Real Madrid), will be looking to win their third title after 1984 and 2000. France, who had to settle for runners-up in 2016 after losing to Portugal on home soil, reached the round of 16 in the last edition.
Germany will be looking to win their fourth title.
They were runners-up in 2008 and third in 2012 and 2016, although they only reached the round of 16 last time out. Spain will also be looking for their fourth title. Last time out, they lost to Italy on penalties in the quarterfinals.
However, Mourinho is not optimistic about the defending champions’ chances, saying: “I don’t think so. It’s not a very talented generation, I don’t believe they will win again,” Mourinho said.
Italy roared to victory at the last tournament, 56 years after winning the 1968 tournament on home soil. After drawing 1-1 with England in the final, they had a reason to smile after winning on penalties. However, the Azzurri have since hung their heads in shame after failing to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Mourinho, meanwhile, was asked about Ronaldo’s role in Portugal in an interview with Portugal’s RTP, emphasizing that “the coach will know”. Mourinho himself coached Ronaldo during his time at Real Madrid.
“Ronaldo is a player who knows how he feels, what his goals are, how the coach wants to use him, whether he wants to play every minute of every game, 카지노사이트 추천 whether he wants to protect him in important moments,” Mourinho explained.
“But there is a lot going on in the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo has a lot of influence and I think he will score goals,” he said, adding, ‘I don’t see him leaving Euro 2024 without a goal.’ Ronaldo holds the all-time record for most goals in an A-match (128). He will look to extend that tally at Euro 2024.