Portugal defender Pepe has discussed the feeling around the national team following their elimination from the World Cup at the quarter-final stage after defeat by Morocco.
Hopes were high for Fernando Santos' side coming into the tournament and Portugal enjoyed some remarkable moments, such as their 6-1 drubbing of Switzerland during the round of 16. However, the overriding feeling is one of regret after Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. fell short against a side many would have expected them to beat.
Pepe addressed reporters at the airport after touching back down on Portuguese soil from Qatar, explaining: "I want to thank everyone. Unfortunately, we didn't achieve the goal we wanted, but the affection they showed here, and also during the World Cup, is very rewarding. We tried to give everything to honour our country."
The former Real Madrid man was pressed for comment on whether he would be calling time on his international career in the coming days, but he kept his cards close to his chest as he replied: "The most important thing now is not to talk about whether it is Pepe's last World Cup, but to thank all the affection."
It was a similar story when it came to speculation over the future of manager Santos, as Pepe added: "I'm a player, I won't talk about it. I just want to thank you for caring.
"We feel sad that we didn't give more to these people, maybe we didn't deserve to leave the way we did, but that's football. You have to learn from yesterday's game so that the future can happen better."
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He stopped short of adding further fuel to the rumours that team-mate Ronaldo will also be thinking about retiring from international football. "Well, it's our flag. He reaches all parts of the world, he made his contribution when called upon and we have to thank him, as well as everyone else, who tried to do their best to be available for the coach," Pepe said of Ronaldo.
The central defender silenced some critics with his performances at the World Cup and even finished the clash with Morocco while unknowingly nursing a broken arm. Remarkably, the broken arm was not the main source of Pepe's frustration following Portugal's elimination - that was referee Facundo Tello.
"It's unacceptable for an Argentine referee to referee our game," the Porto centre-back fumed to SIC, as relayed by Record. "After what happened yesterday, with [Lionel] Messi talking, all of Argentina talking and the referee comes here to blow the whistle. I'm not saying that he comes here conditioned... But what did we play the second half?
"The goalkeeper dropped to the ground. There were only eight minutes of stoppage time. We worked seriously and the referee gave eight minutes [of added time]? We didn't play anything in the second half.
"The only team that played football was us. We are sad. We had the quality to win the World Cup and we didn't manage to. I can bet that Argentina will be champion."
