Nuno Mendes, the 24-year-old Paris Saint-Germain left-back, spoke to beIN SPORTS following Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan last night in the second round of the World Cup. It was a chance to savor both the win and his free-kick goal.
Nuno Mendes: “It was a good match!”
“It was a good match today. We managed to control the entire game—both offensively and defensively. I think that’s the most important thing for us. We train to keep possession every day… I think it was a good match!
The free-kick?
We work on it in training. Everyone thought Cristiano was going to take it. I took advantage of the other team’s lack of concentration and shot… and it went in!”
After a disappointing 0-0 draw against DR Congo, Portugal responded impressively—showing both quality in their play and clinical finishing. It was a confidence-boosting performance that opens the door to the Round of 16, even if qualification isn’t guaranteed just yet. They are close, however, at least via a spot among the best third-placed teams. The key now is to maintain this collective momentum, given the squad’s immense potential.
Nuno Mendes is one of the standout individual talents in the squad, and this time he particularly distinguished himself with that surprise free-kick. It also signals a shift toward team unity following days of (unnecessary) controversy—a very positive sign for the road ahead. The PSG full-back has confirmed that he has this skill in his extensive repertoire as well.
