Portugal to carry Diogo Jota’s memory into World Cup as they embrace tournament pressure

Portugal’s star-studded squad, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, has arrived in the United States for the expanded 48-team World Cup acutely aware of the immense expectations resting on their shoulders.

Tipped as one of the favourites to lift their first-ever World Cup trophy, the players are, however, adopting a pragmatic, game-by-game approach rather than looking too far ahead.

Midfielder Vitinha articulated this cautious optimism on Saturday, speaking through a translator before the team’s inaugural training session in the US.

“We have not talked about putting the high pressure on our team,” he stated. “All competitions are won by focusing on the present moment and not worrying about future outcomes.

“What we can do is think game by game. … We would love to win, and if we go through the group stage, we will go one game at a time.”

Portugal are set to commence their group stage campaign against Congo on 17 June in Houston.

Beyond the tactical focus, the squad carries a poignant reminder of a fallen comrade. Vitinha revealed that each player has received a bracelet from Portugal’s Prime Minister, bearing their own name alongside that of the late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

Jota, a regular in the national squad, tragically died in a car crash in Spain last July and has been posthumously included as an honorary team member by coach Roberto Martínez.

“We have received this with a lot of love,” Vitinha said, gesturing to the green and red band on his wrist.

Having touched down in the US on Friday evening, the Portuguese contingent will be based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, for the duration of the tournament.

Their first training session on Saturday was met with an enthusiastic reception from a crowd of chanting fans, with Ronaldo leading the team in acknowledging their support. However, the humid conditions and temperatures in the upper 80s F (around 31-32 Celsius) immediately highlighted a significant challenge.

Concerns over extreme temperatures have been a recurring theme across many of the 16 host cities, prompting measures such as cooling stations and hydration breaks during matches.

Vitinha acknowledged that the heat would undoubtedly impact Portugal’s players but stressed that it was a universal challenge.

“Obviously the physical question is very important,” he remarked. “The weather conditions will very much affect how we play, but that is for everybody. It’s not just for us.

“With the temperatures in the United States, Mexico and Canada, it is very different, but it is the world championship. There are no excuses. There are no conditions that can keep us from giving everything for our national team.”

Despite the sweltering conditions, players were observed hydrating throughout Saturday’s session and appeared relatively unaffected, perhaps aided by an earlier trip to the beach to unwind.

Vitinha underscored the importance of this mental respite: “It’s important for our head, our mental aspect as well to take advantage of the conditions we have,” he concluded, “to relax a little bit.”