Portugal’s experienced defender Pepe believes the team must recover its combative streak after their ignominious defeat at the hands of the Germans by a margin of 4-2. The defending champions were weak in their defense and could not control the game after taking a 1-0 lead.

On the other hand, Germany were able to bring their A-game to the table and dominated the Cristiano Ronaldo-led team. After a disappointing show against Germany, Portugal will next face previous edition’s runners-up France, who are currently at the top of the Group F, which is considered as the Group of death.

“We need to be what we have always been, a very combative team which plays with solidarity,” Pepe told a news conference ahead of the game in Budapest, a re-run of the Euro 2016 final which Portugal won 1-0 after extra time.

“After Germany we were very sad but we’ve thoroughly analysed our performance and we want to show what we’re worth. The last match wasn’t good, that’s true, but tomorrow we have the chance to prove our doubters wrong and play at our best level.”

It will be a crucial match for the reigning champions and they will aim to get their form back. In fact, Portugal will go through to the round of 16 even if they manage a draw against France. However, in that case Portugal will hope that Hungary don’t cause an upset against Germany in their last Group stage match.

Pepe feels his team needs to make the adjustments and learn from their mistakes against Germany. The defender wants his team to come up with a collective effort.

“We need to play closer together, support each other, we’ve shown what Portugal is like we have many quality players but we also work so hard together which is very important and what led us to be so respected across Europe,” he added.

“Whenever Germany got a corner against us they were really fired up and showed how much they wanted to beat us. We have to emulate that, we have to want it as much as Germany did to make it through.