Portuguese striker João Félix gave a pre-match interview, offering his outlook on the upcoming friendly against the United States.

Reflecting on the match against Mexico, João Félix said, "It was a friendly, and the environment was different from what we usually experience, but that's no excuse. We trained together in November, and several months have passed. The coach chose two different lineups, and many players hadn't had much practice together before, so the tactical concepts weren't fully implemented."

“Our performance was not bad, and the game was very competitive. Mexico is a very strong team, but we did not underperform and created some chances, while they only had one. We need to learn from this experience, analyze our shortcomings, and do our best to improve.”

"In some games we created many chances but failed to score, while in others we only created one chance and scored. In Saudi Arabia, the opponent scored without a shot in the first half, which was an atypical day. I believe everything will return to normal in the next game."

Speaking about the team atmosphere and mentality, João Félix said: "Everyone is very relaxed. I often say that it's easy to join this team. Both the veterans and the new players are willing to accept you, and I don't feel nervous. Staying calm makes things go more smoothly, and I see everyone doing their best to fight for their place and the chance to be selected for the World Cup."

“Every player puts pressure on themselves. I’ve been getting consistent playing time and playing in my preferred position lately. I’ve performed well in this position at Benfica, and the tactical system suits me very well. I have complete confidence in myself, and by playing in the right position, I’ll eventually succeed.”

"Injuries are always a nuisance, but it's best not to worry or fantasize too much before a major tournament. We must train hard to protect ourselves and do our best to minimize the risk of injury. Hopefully, no one in the team is injured, but right now, no one is thinking about it."

“I don’t think the local fans are very invested in football. They just lost to Belgium, and it was a home game. The US team has some excellent players who play for big European clubs, and their overall strength should not be underestimated. We must be prepared; the US team is indeed a threat. The most important thing is the feedback from within the team, including the players, coaching staff, and personnel. External comments, whether from Mexico, China, or Portugal, don’t affect us much. We focus on continuous improvement in every game.”

Image source: Internet/Portugal National Team Official Website