Portugal sure to respect Slovenia in Euro 2024 round of 16 with fresh memory of upset losses
Portugal's head coach Roberto Martinez gives instructions from the side line during a Group F match between Turkey and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Darko Vojinovic]
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Portugal coach Roberto Martinez knows to respect the underdog. He already saw his favored team lose to Slovenia when the round of 16 opponents at the European Championship met in a friendly in March. Portugal lost by the same 2-0 score to Georgia in a Euro 2024 group game. Martinez was asked about the underdog trend ahead of Monday’s game between Portugal and Slovenia in Frankfurt. Martinez says “All the teams here have a lot of personality. They believe that they can win and the same applies to Slovenia.” The winner moves on to play France or Belgium on Friday in Hamburg.
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