Portugal's national team coach Paulo Bento expects only a victory in the clash with the USA, as any other scenario is not acceptable to them.
Portugal lost their first World Cup group stage match to Germany, and another failure would mean elimination from Brazil.
The team coached by P. Bento will be without defenders Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, and forward Hugo Almeida, but the coach does not think about injuries and urges to focus all attention on the game.
"Let's not talk about players who can't help us and let's focus on the game itself. The situation is that we have to win, otherwise we will go home. A draw doesn't suit us either," P. Bento said.
"I believe we can win and the players believe in their abilities. Everything depends solely on them. If we play as a team and control the ball, then we can win this match," added the 45-year-old Portuguese.
Furthermore, P. Bento demands that Portugal not be seen as Cristiano Ronaldo's team alone: "From the beginning of my work with the national team, I said that I don't want to burden Ronaldo with all the responsibility. Yes, he is the best footballer in the world, but others must help him, as a team cannot win with just one player."
The clash between Portugal and the USA national teams will take place tonight at 1 a.m.
