Francisco Conceicao has dismissed the notion that he is merely a late-impact substitute for Portugal, insisting his status as a regular Juventus starter proves he offers more than brief cameos. The winger made his position clear while speaking to media in Palm Beach before Portugal’s second World Cup group fixture against Uzbekistan.
The 21-year-old pushed back against the “super-sub” tag that has followed him at international level. “I would like to be known simply as Francisco Conceicao,” he stated. “If one is talking about a player who only comes on in the last 10 or 15 minutes, that is not quite right. I play at Juventus in Serie A and I have been a regular starter for my club.”
Conceicao’s comments came as Portugal prepare to face an Uzbekistan side managed by Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro. The 2006 Ballon d’Or winner once played alongside the Juventus winger’s father, Sergio Conceicao, for the Italian national team. “We have not spoken about Cannavaro, but I know he was a great player, a legend,” Conceicao noted. He anticipates a stubborn defensive approach from the Asian outfit, adding: “I know Italian coaches well and I know their strategy will be to delay our goal for as long as possible. We know what difficulties await us.”
The fixture also carries historical significance for the Conceicao family. Francisco and his father Sergio have become the first father and son from Portugal to both feature at a World Cup finals. The younger Conceicao revealed that his father, now a respected coach himself, remains his primary source of guidance. “My father is my main advisor. There is no one better to talk to about football,” he explained. “He helps me a great deal both in football and in personal life.”
Sergio Conceicao has warned his son about the fine margins at tournament football. “My father told me that a small mistake can compromise everything, that is precisely what we want to avoid,” Francisco said. The Juventus forward will hope to feature prominently against Uzbekistan as Portugal seek to build momentum in the group stage.