NewsNational Team A
Paulo Sousa: Each of us played below expectations today
'We wanted to put pressure on our opponent, but we were driven by our hearts rather than our minds. We need to make smart decisions in terms of our tactics and strategy. That's what was missing in our game today,' said the head coach Paulo Sousa at a press conference held after the match against Hungary at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw that Poland lost 1-2.
'We were not in optimal shape. But it was a good time for the team to mature. We have players who can take a step forward. We have the football quality, but we need to be stronger as a team. We still have a goal to achieve. The team needs to be mentally mature in order to play matches in a smart way. We know that such situations may happen again in the future. We can't rely on one or two great players, because if they can't play, what then? We have to bring youth into the team because they need to gain experience. Perhaps there is the next European championship waiting for them, and they need to get some international experience by then. It was the right time for them to be able to join the team. Unfortunately, the game did not turn out well for us. We could have played at home without pressure and defeated a well-disciplined team like the Hungarians. However, there was no leader on the pitch and no communication in the team,' emphasised the Portuguese.
As a result of our team's defeat at the hands of Hungary, Poland may be unseeded in the play-offs. 'The most important thing is that we wanted to play the first match at home. But we have shown in the past that we can compete as equals in an away match against a strong team. I think our players are good to defeat a great team in only one game,' added Paulo Sousa.
