Portugal coach Santos has a coffee and signs a new contract

LISBON, July 22: Portugal coach Ferndo Santos needed one cup of coffee to agree a new four-year contract in charge of the European champions, he said on Thursday. The 61-year-old dismissed any suggestion he would struggle to meet higher expectations, saying pressure was for “cookers” and he was not afraid of challenges because he had four dogs. Santos was initially appointed in September 2014 with Portugal at a low ebb and led them through the Euro 2016 qualifiers with seven straight wins, all by single-goal margins. At the fils, Portugal scraped through their group with three draws before beating Croatia in extra time, Poland on pelties, Wales in 90 minutes and hosts France 1-0 in extra time in the fil thanks to a strike by Eder.

Still unbeaten after 14 competitive games with Portugal, the former Greece coach said as soon as they returned home from the fils, he agreed to meet Portuguese federation president Ferndo Gomes in the Algarve where they were both on holiday. “That’s what we did after a turbulent, tiring week of unleashing emotions,” he said. “We sat down, had a coffee and easily reached an agreement.” . IANS