It's not about life and death, it's just a game: Angola coach

Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves watches his team during the World Cup match against Portugal. Portugal won 1-0 and Goncalves took issue with legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly's famous remark that football's not about life and death, it's more important than that.

Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves took issue with legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly's famous remark that football's not about life and death, it's more important than that.

The man who has masterminded a resurgence in the country's footballing fortunes was asked how he felt about Angola's next World Cup run out against Mexico being a matter of life and death given their opening loss here Sunday to Portugal.

The Professor as he's affectionately known back in the south west African nation replied: "I don't look at things in those terms. This isn't about that, it's about a football game, but a good one."

An understandable sentiment coming from someone whose country is just emerging from a near three decade long civil war that left about one million dead and crippled its infrastructure and economy.

Goncalves said he was proud of Angola's first foray into the World Cup after seeing his team recover from a nervy start to push Portugal all the way to the line.

Portugal took the spoils 1-0 thanks to Pauleta's fourth minute goal but Angola had chances too, notably from their top scorer Akwa and keeper Joao Ricarod produced some fine saves.

"We are the most humble team but my players played with extreme pride.

"Our objective is to complicate matters for the major powers in world football.

"We studied Portugal, we taped all their games. All teams have weak points and Portugal showed some of theirs.

"Our aim was to control their big players and we were able to do that, apart from the goal."

Angola, who owe their presence in Germany to finishing ahead of Nigeria in qualifying, came into the finals with a series of friendly defeats against Argentina, Turkey and the United States, but Goncalves insisted his men were progressing.

"We showed improvement after each warm-up, and against Portugal we improved further.

"I recognise the Mexicans are strong but we'll be trying to counter balance a tough adversary."

Goncalves was magnanimous in defeat.

"Portugal started well, sometimes the way another team starts forces the other side to make mistakes.

"We paid a heavy penalty with the goal but we came back and pressurised them a lot in the second half.

"We weren't able to score in the end and so I congratulate Portugal, they won deservedly."

Angola, who foot the group, take on Mexico in Hanover on Friday with their final group game against Iran in Leipzig on June 21.