Richard Ríos sees no benefit in playing for Benfica: I feel... | OneFootball

Richard Ríos is fully focused on Colombia’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup and is already looking ahead to one of the most highly anticipated matches of the group stage: the clash against Portugal. Despite playing for Benfica and knowing Portuguese football well, the Colombian midfielder believes that this will not give him any special advantage when the time comes to face Roberto Martínez’s team.

Speaking during the Colombian national team’s training camp, the Eagles midfielder played down the impact of competing in the Portuguese league when it comes to analyzing the opponent: “A large number of Portuguese players play outside Portugal. So I don’t feel that the fact I play here changes anything in relation to the opponent,” said Richard Ríos.

Even so, the midfielder acknowledged that the experience gained in European football could help Colombia adapt to some of the characteristics of the style of play used by national teams from the continent: “It is good to know that the characteristics of the Portuguese national team are similar to those of many European teams. They are used to good pitches and balls that are different from the ones we South Americans use. Perhaps that is the main difference,” he explained.

Despite the anticipation surrounding the clash with Portugal, Ríos made it clear that the focus is on enjoying the experience of playing in the biggest international tournament in the world. “It’s going to be a very good match. We are going to experience something different against them and I feel it will be quite different from what I encounter daily in Portugal,” he added.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.