The grown-up Alfredo Quintana is one of nine players from the Portuguese national team who plays everyday under the leadership of Swedish Magnus Andersson in Porto. The Cuba-born goalkeeper points out Andersson as one of the factors that surprised Portugal in the European Championship and, among other things, helped to knock out the big favorite France from the group stage.
- Magnus came up with a new way of thinking when he entered Portuguese handball. That is what has made us rise. Now the other clubs have tried to catch Porto, explains Alfredo Quintana.
The 31-year-old believes that Andersson's way of playing handball has set a new standard in the Portuguese league.
- Yes, he has played a big role. He has set systems that the other teams are trying to implement. Now we have Sporting and we in Porto in the Champions League and Benfica in the EHF Cup. So it has evolved.
Has it also developed the national team?
- Yes, no doubt. Portugal has been out of the big championships for a long time. The last nation to participate in a European Championship was in 2006. On the junior side, the fourth place has gone better with the U20 European Championships 2018 and silver 2010.
- That we moved on from the first group was no surprise to us, but perhaps to others. The clubs in Portugal are doing a fantastic job and that we have made it this far thanks to the development of the club teams.
Quintana says that he saw Sweden's meeting with Poland, but that there will be different matches in the main round.
- Here, it will be more tense and every point will be extremely important to move on. Hopefully there will be good matches.
Are you or Sweden the favorite?
- There are no favorites, both teams can win. The team that makes the least mistake will win.