Joao Mario Q&A: Portugal star on World Cup hopes, coping without Cristiano Ronaldo and which England players impress him most
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Naturally Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player who springs to my mind when talking up Portugal.
But after his wonder goal against Tunisia last weekend, Joao Mario offered a quick reminder there is more to the European champions than the Real Madrid superstar.
The midfielder impressed during a loan spell at West Ham, with the Hammers keen to extend his stay from Inter Milan next season.
Now, revitalised from his six month stint in the East End, the 25-year-old is looking forward to testing himself on the grand stage of the World Cup - starting against Spain on June 15.
Here, we caught up with Joao Mario in an exclusive Q&A, courtesy of West Ham's principle sponsors Betway, to discuss his hopes for this summer in Russia, his pride at pulling on the national shirt and proving how Portugal are not just a one-man team...
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
(Image: AFP/Getty)
Mirror Football: Let’s go back three years, where you scored the winning goal for Portugal against England in the Under 21 Euros. Fast forward two more years, you’re in the team that won the European Championship. Does that show that by doing it that way and going through into the national team can be successful?
Joao Mario: Of course, it’s important when you are young to get used to play for the national teams. The game against England was my first game for the U21’s so I was really happy because I scored the goal that gave us the victory and I guess as a football player you need to step by step make your way up and I did all the steps, U17’s, 19’s and 21’s, so when I arrived in the senior team I was more prepared.
MF: England are trying that. The team you played against included Butland, Kane, Lingard.
JM: It was amazing and I remember so well Kane, Chalobah, Lingard, amazing players but we also had a strong team and achieved the finals but unfortunately we lost against Sweden.
MF: Tell us about the feeling you had two years ago in the Stade de France when Cristiano Ronaldo came off? Everybody seemingly thought Portugal’s chance had gone.
JM: Yeah I guess everyone in the world thought that, but on the pitch we got even stronger because we wanted to give him the victory. And I guess it’s a big thing when something like this happens, when your best player, your leader, and your captain cannot help you but we just found some power from somewhere and we won.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
(Image: Octavio Passos)
MF: Is there more pressure on you now in this World Cup because you are European champions?
JM: I don’t know if pressure is the right word but it might be harder because everyone knows what they are playing against. We are ready and were tested in the qualification. The World Cup is even more difficult than the European Championship but we’re going to try again and we know it will be even harder.
MF: It is your first World Cup, so are you going to be nervous or excited?
JM: It’s my first World Cup and it’s a different competition and an amazing experience so maybe a little bit nervous at the beginning but with the experience of the games, the way we play, the knowledge of everything, it makes it easier.
MF: And Spain first up. Looking forward to it?
JM: Yeah it’s like England vs Scotland and an exciting game for us and we are going to try to beat them. It’s the main game for us, it’s the first game and we want to start the World Cup well. It’ s not going to be easy because we’re going to play one of the best teams in the world but it’s a special game for us and anything can happen.
MF: Many expect Portugal and Spain to go through in your group. But will it be so easy?
JM: It’s not easy. We need to respect Iran and Morocco as we know in football to expect surprises so we need to be ready and try to win all the games because that’s the only way to move on.
(Image: REUTERS)
MF: What’s your overall World Cup memory?
JM: I remember the 2002 World Cup in South Korea. For Portugal it didn’t go so well but that’s my first memory of Portugal.
MF: What’s the feeling like when you pull on a Portugal shirt.
JM: Now that I am out of Portugal and when I go back it is always special. It is like the feeling that you’ve come back home. When I lived in Portugal I didn’t get it as much but now that I have left I always feel as though I am coming home and it’s always special.
Joao Mario was speaking on behalf of West Ham principal sponsors Betway, who are giving away £250,000 throughout this summer's World Cup with their free-to-play prediction game ‘4 To Score’.