Paulo Bento, Portugal coach
Our first match [the 4-0 defeat versus Germany] was crucial, due to the impact it had on us on every level - both on our morale and because it was a very heavy defeat, which meant we had a significant goal-difference handicap. It’s true that we had chances against United States, when we were the better team, but we didn't put them all away. That forced us into a situation where we’d have to score a lot of goals [to qualify for the Round of 16], which is very difficult to do. Even in today’s game we had the chances to have racked up a bigger score. But it was what happened in the first game that proved decisive and which left its mark on us, even in terms of our preparations.
Our first match [the 4-0 defeat versus Germany] was crucial, due to the impact it had on us on every level - both on our morale and because it was a very heavy defeat, which meant we had a significant goal-difference handicap. It’s true that we had chances against United States, when we were the better team, but we didn't put them all away. That forced us into a situation where we’d have to score a lot of goals [to qualify for the Round of 16], which is very difficult to do. Even in today’s game we had the chances to have racked up a bigger score. But it was what happened in the first game that proved decisive and which left its mark on us, even in terms of our preparations.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal captain and Budweiser Man of the Match
We tried to do our best at this tournament, but we weren’t able to. Today was a must-win game and we won it. We created a lot of chances. We knew that if Germany were to win by a goal [versus USA] we needed to score four, and we created enough to have done that. The feeling we’re left with is that it could have been done, because we created enough chances. We leave here with our heads held high.
James Kwesi Appiah, Ghana coach
The disciplinary incidents of the past few days didn’t have any impact on our performance. I think that, if you compare it with the team we had at the 2010 World Cup, this side is quite a lot younger – in that team we’d had players who’d been preparing for years. But we’re growing in confidence and we’re building a nice team for the future.
We tried to do our best at this tournament, but we weren’t able to. Today was a must-win game and we won it. We created a lot of chances. We knew that if Germany were to win by a goal [versus USA] we needed to score four, and we created enough to have done that. The feeling we’re left with is that it could have been done, because we created enough chances. We leave here with our heads held high.
James Kwesi Appiah, Ghana coach
The disciplinary incidents of the past few days didn’t have any impact on our performance. I think that, if you compare it with the team we had at the 2010 World Cup, this side is quite a lot younger – in that team we’d had players who’d been preparing for years. But we’re growing in confidence and we’re building a nice team for the future.
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