They are 19 and 22 years old and the faces of their handball nation: Francisco Costa and Martim Costa go to the quarter-finals on Wednesday evening (8:30 p.m., live in the first, in stream and in live ticker near Sportschau on Wednesday evening (8.30 p.m. .de) against Germany.
In a double interview, the roles of the two are somewhat different than on the plate. “Martim can do much better English, but I’m trying my best”says Francisco with a laugh when he speaks to the sports show about the historically greatest game of Portuguese handball so far.
The youngster describes what he feels like a means before the game: “It’s about not being afraid to be strong, focused. Portugal has never been in a quarter -finals, but we are ready to write the story even further. We have left Sweden, Norway and Spain behind. Are a small country, but we have great dreams. “
“The most important building block is our team spirit”
Martim Costa also describes the mission offensive: “Nice to be in the quarter-finals, but we want more. I know that it will be hard, but also that we can beat Germany. We have a super defensive, we are strong from the back area, from the circle and on the outside. We also have very good goalkeepers – but the most important building block with us is our team spirit. “
The smallest and closest team in this team is of course the brothers. They not only play together in the national team, but also in the club, at Sporting Lisbon, where they also cause a sensation in the Champions League. Conveniently, you will also train from your father at Sporting, by Ricardo Costa.
Paths can also separate
Can the two actually imagine a separation if at least one of the two succumbed to the many top clubs from all over Europe? Both answer the question, Francisco says: “I love Martim and enjoy every second in the field next to him. He just always knows what I do, what the best solutions are. But of course the paths can also separate.”
Martim says: “I like to be responsible for him, it is something very special to be able to play with him and of course I know every facet of his personality. In the future, a lot can happen, but we both love that we are now here and now Then again in the club. “
“I always want to beat him in training”
Can’t one brother annoy the other? Kiko laughs, thinks briefly, then he answers: “It is definitely the case that I always want to beat him in every training game.” Martim nods too. And then they tell what drives them particularly.
Francisco rolls up his training sweater, shows his tattoo on the left forearm. “AQ” stands there, these are the in Italy of his mentor, who died four years ago, Portugal’s goalkeeper legend Alfredo Quintana. Kiko explains: “He is still with us in every match, like playing for him. We want to write the story for him that he started with us.”
“In the end wants to have brought out the best”
Martim also speaks about his very close relationship to the late idol and also describes a very personal motivation: “At the end of my career I want to be able to say that I got the best out.“This also applies to Germany for the game on Wednesday evening.