The beast is back! Sitting woefully on the bench at Portugal’s match against the USA did not do Pepe well and he is back to challenge Ghana and fight for a spot at the Round of 16. He’s refusing to give up easily and does not believe that his red-card against Germany was even deserved. He’s had his day of rest (albeit unwanted) and really wishes to help take his team to the next round.
A natural defender, Pepe has represented his country in two World Cups and two European Championships. He’s proven effective at not allowing the defence to slide pass him without a struggle and plays well at the back, be in centre or at the left and right. He has managed to score goals for both his country and club, however, for he doesn’t miss a chance to score if it is staring at him in the face.
His playing is quite aggressive and he’s proven valuable for his country as well as club. However, his disciplinary issues have been at the heart of quite a few controversies and has picked up plenty of red and yellow cards.
If by any miracle the Portuguese team manage to make it past this group stage, Pepe needs to ensue he doesn’t leave his team high and dry by misbehaving on the field. Much like Uruguay is bereft of Suarez due to his serial biting, Pepe’s constant loss of temper coupled with displays of violence can cause unwanted problems for the already struggling Portuguese team.
Pepe is a formidable defender to play against, both for his skills as well as his unpredictable temperament. His obstacles on the field are more likely to sustain rather severe injuries, but it is not fair to condemn his every attempt to defend as an act of violence.
Check out how he got red carded below :
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