Can’t ask for better debut, says Pepe

By Tales Azzoni

Neuchatel, Switzerland

June 8: After a perfect debut in the European Championship, Pepe is already looking for more. In his first international appearance in a major competition,Pepe scored the decisive go-ahead goal in Portugal’s 2-0 victory over Turkey in the opener on Saturday in Geneva and was named the man of the match. The central defender couldn’t have asked for a better debut, but he wants more.

"I have to keep working hard with my teammates," Pepe said. "I want to give even more happiness to Portugal."

The 25-year-old Pepe, who was born in Brazil and is at Real Madrid, had played only three matches with Portugal before Saturday — two warm-up games for the European tournament and the final qualifying encounter against Finland.

"I have never felt more Portuguese than I’m feeling today," Pepe said. "Portugal gave me everything and I needed to make my retribution."

Pepe’s debut was so impressive that after the match he was attracting similar attention from reporters as star winger Cristiano Ronaldo received.

Pepe’s defensive prowess is what led him to a multimillion transfer from FC Porto to Madrid in 2007, but on Saturday he showed at Stade de Geneve that he has other skills to offer. The goal that snapped the match’s scoreless drought in the 61st minute displayed his overall ability.

"This is one of my characteristics, I like to attack any time I can," Pepe said. "I kept believing until the end on that play because I knew it could work."

— AFP