Thomas Sinicki, Media365: Published on Monday, March 18, 2024 at 1:13 p.m.
There is still a long way to go for the Portuguese, and it is under construction again after achieving the feat of beating Fiji (24-23) a few months ago during the World Cup.
Portugal were hoping to validate their massive World Cup by winning the European Championship, a sort of second tier of the Six Nations, on Sunday in Jean-Boyne against Georgia. But as a very regular, she won the title for the thirteenth time in fourteen editions (36-10). A huge success for the players of Richard Cockerill, who has just returned to the lineup after his departure from Montpellier in January: four attempts to one, all in the second half, in addition to the four penalties already taken during the first term by Luca. Matkava, author of sixteen points in total. “To be honest, we weren't there, I'm sorry Captain Thomas Appleton (on RMC Sport), it's difficult when there's such a difference, we couldn't raise our level or achieve that which we worked on.” “We suffered from our mistakes.”
Mira: “We build for the future”
Winger Akaki Tapotsadze scored twice and the Portuguese had the flair to rescue honor two minutes from time, while they were 36-3 down, just to narrow the bill slightly. And when it comes time to take stock, they still managed to reach the final after an unexpected defeat in Belgium at the start of their group (10-6). Georgia and Portugal had already met in the first final of 2023, winning 38-11. Previous editions were held like a big tournament in a simple small tournament, without qualifying at the end. Also in the same group during the World Cup, the two teams were later separated by a draw (18-18).
This year, after defeating Romania, Belgium and Poland in the group stage (Spain, Netherlands and Germany were in the Georgia group), Lobos had already struggled against Spain in the semi-finals (33-30), a win which they also obtained and finished in third place ahead of Romania (40-33), which remains the only country that challenged Georgian dominance with a title in 2017. Lusitanian coach Joao Mira, who took over from Patrice Lajesque, does not see “any real positive in the near future.” But he expands the scope: “They have been better… We are building a team for the future, this is part of the process in which our group grows, other players will arrive and we will be stronger and stronger. He will be essential for the next match in June against the world champions South Africa.
