Mission accomplished for Portugal, who secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup after their dominant 9–1 victory over Armenia. After the match, Gonçalo Ramos, the Paris Saint-Germain striker, stopped to speak to the media about the team’s success.
Ramos: “We were clearly superior”
*“Here, everyone can contribute, and I’m just one more player. Everyone would like to have more playing time.
Today, there really was no choice — it was win or win. We were clearly superior and we showed it on the pitch, securing our qualification and proving what we are capable of.”*
Ramos: “We executed our plan better”
“It was a matter of efficiency. Some days the ball just doesn’t want to go in. Today, we created more chances than in the previous match, but we were also more clinical. We executed our game plan better, and that’s why we came away with such a great win.”
Ramos: “We have to take it step by step”
“In every competition we take part in, we are favourites, but we have to take it step by step. We still have preparation matches in March and a whole season ahead of us to get ready for the World Cup.”
A very fine victory for Portugal, who have now secured their ticket to the 2026 World Cup. Clinching qualification after such a spectacular win makes it even sweeter for a team that already looks like one of the favourites for the upcoming tournament. A key player for PSG, Gonçalo Ramos is also an important figure for his national team, scoring a goal against Armenia. Even though he still has room to grow, barring any major setback, the PSG striker should take part in the next World Cup.
Young and strong, with a leader named Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal have reached a level of maturity that few teams in Europe can match. With four European champions in the squad, this could also help them achieve their goals at the World Cup.
