"It’s true that we’ve had some problems in defense. They [the Angolan defenders] marked really badly, so carry the main responsibility [for the 3-2 defeat to Turkey on Friday]", slammed the Coach.

"But it’s not just the defenders themselves who need to carry the can”, he added. “The team as a whole needs to focus more and help in defensive tasks.”

Gonçalves has his last chance to make any alterations he sees fit to make in the modest African underdogs in today’s friendly against the USA.

"The boss is giving us a hard time over defense right now because that really is the area we need to tighten upon", admitted centre-back Delgado.

Goalkeeper Joao Ricardo – one of the Angolan highlights in the friendlies played to date for his solidity in goal despite the wobbly rearguard – believes there’s time.

"It’s fundamental that we don’t suffer too much in this game. When you lose, everybody leaves the field annoyed and it creates tension. We’ve just got to make sure that we do our best – and keep on trying to improve what our best currently is. We’ll try to surprise the world"

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