Portugal's volleyball struggles at European Championship
- Source
- RecordTier 1
- By
- leitores@record.pt (Record)
- Published
Key points
- Portugal lost to Israel in straight sets on Sunday, extending their winless run to three matches
- Coach João José and players call for strong performances in remaining group games to reach knockout stage
- Ukraine awaits on Monday in a must-win fixture as Portugal fights to salvage their tournament
AI summary
Portugal suffered their third consecutive defeat at the European Volleyball Championship, falling to Israel on Sunday. With qualification hopes fading, coach João José acknowledged the team's struggles in closing out matches, particularly in the fifth set where they "collapsed" under pressure. He called for a reaction against Ukraine on Monday, describing the opposition as one of the tournament favourites.
Players Bruno Dias and Gonçalo Sousa admitted the loss complicates their path to the knockout rounds but insisted the tournament is far from over. Both emphasised the need to carry their better performances into upcoming matches and backed their ability to compete against stronger sides.
Original headline
João José após a derrota com Israel: «O desporto é mesmo assim, temos de reagir...»
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