Paulo Bento has insisted that he has no intention of resigning if, as expected, Portugal are eliminated from the World Cup on Thursday. Portugal’s hopes of reaching the last 16 are hanging by a thread after picking up only one point from their opening two matches but Bento, whose contract as coach expires in 2016, said that he plans to remain in charge of the team regardless and retains the full support of the federation.
Bento’s position has come under the spotlight after two disappointing performances at the World Cup, including a 4-0 thrashing by Germany. Portugal looked like they were going to be out when trailing 2-1 to the USA on Monday but Silvestre Varela’s equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time has given them a lifeline.
Their chances remain remote. Portugal need to beat Ghana in Brasília and hope that the Germany and USA match does not end in a draw. If the USA lose, Portugal need a five-goal swing. If Germany lose, they need an eight-goal swing. It feels like a huge ask, especially given the way that Portugal have been playing. “I do believe in miracles,” said Pepe, who is available again after serving a one-match suspension following his dismissal against Germany.
The likelihood is that Portugal will be heading home, hence the questions about Bento’s future, which clearly irritated him. “What exactly do you want me to answer? If I’m going to continue with the team? I have repeated many times, the situation is very specific, very peaceful. The federation trust me and the president trusts me, this goes way back. The same with the qualification, [before the crucial matches] against Azerbaijan and Israel. They never failed to trust me and they trust me now.”
Pressed further, Bento said: “What I can say is that my feeling today is the same feeling I had before the [World Cup play-off] match against Sweden, when I talked about the pride, happiness and joy for being the head of the national team and how much trust I have in the players that took us this far.
“In April there was an agreement with the Portugal Football Federation [when Bento signed a two-year extension]. Whatever happens in the match against Ghana, I am not going to resign from my job as a coach, it’s not my intention, it’s not the intention of the federation staff or the president of the federation.”
Bento was on a roll and went onto rail against Fifa for allowing games to kick-off at 1pm “when the players are told they should not be on the beach at that time” because of the heat. He was starting to sound like a man who believes the world is conspiring against him, although he did say that he has no concerns that Germany and USA could play out a draw to ensure both nations go through.
“No, I’m not afraid of that,” Bento said. “You need to have respect, dignity in football, nothing else. The United States and Germany have a match, we’ll play our match. In football, my history is of respect to others so others would respect me.”
Pepe agreed. “I think we’re all professional in football. I don’t think we should look at it this way. It’s not in our minds that this is a possibility.”
It was a tetchy press conference, with Pepe accusing the Portuguese media of presenting a one-eyed view of the opening game, when he was sent off for, rather idiotically, putting his head into Thomas Müller’s face. “We did make mistakes in the first match but we never lost our minds or lost control,” Pepe said.
“What people have been saying around the Portugal team, you from the press create things. We know our skills – Portugal, with the players we have, should not be in the position we are now. I think the red card was very strict, there were penalties not given in our favour, there could have been a red card for two German players, you in the press did not mention this. It’s up to us to continue with our role.”
Asked whether he would retire from international football after the World Cup, Pepe, who turned 31 in January, said: “I am not going to give up on the Portugal team. I’m not going to send a resignation letter like some Portuguese players have done, I’ll leave when the coach or president think, when I’ve no longer got skills to contribute to the Portugal team. When the times comes I will be prepared to be able to leave the Portugal team and leave with my head up.”