Portugal to honor Jota with special wristbands at World Cup

Portugal's World Cup squad will honor the memory of former teammate Diogo Jota by wearing special commemorative wristbands during the tournament. Midfielder Vitinha revealed the tribute, explaining that the wristbands were a gift from Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.

“

Basically, the story of the wristband is, when we went to meet with the Prime Minister, he offered us this wristband. They made sure that it was a wristband that we could wear on the pitch. It has all the specifics for us to be able to enter the pitch with it, with the name of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota. He let us choose if we wanted to use it or not, how (we use it), during the day or during the match. We received it with a lot of affection and we chose to use it.

Each wristband bears the names of all current squad members alongside that of Diogo Jota, who tragically died with his brother in a car crash last year. Jota had earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals for Portugal, and his absence has been deeply felt by his teammates. "We received it with a lot of affection and we chose to use it," Vitinha told reporters, emphasizing the squad's decision to wear the tribute on the pitch.

“

I wouldn't say we're the favourites, we have great quality and capacity to advance far in the tournament. We know the right path is to be humble and play the right game. We have the talent, all we need is the technical and tactical aspects (to come together).

As Portugal prepares to open their Group K campaign against DR Congo next week, Vitinha struck a cautious tone regarding their prospects. While acknowledging the team's "great quality and capacity to advance far," he stressed the importance of humility and playing the right game. "We have the talent, all we need is the technical and tactical aspects (to come together)," he added.

“

The weather will affect how we play, but that is for everybody, not just for us. With varying temperatures in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, it is very difficult. But it is the World Cup and there are no excuses, no conditions that can keep us from giving everything for the national team.

Vitinha also addressed the logistical challenges presented by the tournament's multi-country format across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He noted that the "varying temperatures" would be difficult but stated, "there are no excuses, no conditions that can keep us from giving everything for the national team." Winning the World Cup remains a lifelong ambition for Vitinha, who followed in his father's footsteps as a midfielder.

“

It's always been a dream, I've not wished to do anything else. To an extent I've always followed what my father did. This is what I always wanted to do, I've always dreamed of this and achieved many great things. I want to achieve winning this title as well.