When Portugal walk on to the pitch to face Croatia in the World Cup round of 32 on Thursday in Toronto, the date will still be July 2 in Canada.
Back home, however, it will already be July 3, a day that carries a weight beyond football.
Exactly a year will have passed since the death of Diogo Jota, the Portugal and Liverpool forward whose skill, eye for goal and devotion to the national team made him one of their most beloved players.
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in northwestern Spain when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, who has described Jota as “our light”, named him an honorary member of his World Cup squad.
Jota’s close friend Ruben Neves, the Portugal midfielder, wears Jota’s number 21.
The country’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro gifted the players wristbands, opens new tab bearing Jota’s name.
As the game kicks off in Toronto, the clock will tick past midnight in Portugal, marking an event that stunned the nation and sent shockwaves through football.
Source: Reuters
