Portugal Rose and sang for Diogo Jota when they declared their love for Liverpool’s no 20 – the embodiment of who they are like a nation, writes Tara Anson -Walsh

They walked in silence through the streets, placed kept high to explain their love for Liverpool‘s no 20.

The drummer at the front of the mess remembered from using his instrument and remembering people from using their voices. There were no words available to articulate their sense of loss, and so they gathered to express their respect in unspoken unity instead.

The news of Diogo JotaDeath had sent shock waves by the football world, but nowhere were the reverb more acute than among the Portuguese fans who were collected in Bern for the ladies European Championship Opening Group Stage Game between Spain and Portugal.

“It’s so new, it’s hard to believe it is real,” a fan said outside the Wankdorf Stadium, with a bucket -embroidered with the Portuguese flag, Mail Sport said.

They may be on their way to a women’s competition, but this was a moment when the entire football community stood together as one.

Switzerland is the home of one of the largest Portuguese communities – the third largest group of strangers after Germans and Italians – and they raised signs that stated: ‘You took the name Portugal outside the borders. Now it is our turn to increase your name. ‘

A minute of silence was held for Diogo Jota before Portugal women stood opposite Spain

Huldesten were paid to Jota before the game in Switzerland after he died tragically at the age of 28 –

A fan has a sign with the lecture ‘Rest in Peace D. Jota’, with supporters who have been left in shock by the news

Jota made his senior debut for Portugal in 2019 and scored 14 goals in 49 performances

Under the crowd there were vintage liverpool – shirts – Gerrard at the back and Carlsberg at the front. There were even a few Pacos de Ferreira shirts, the club where both Jota and Andre Silva brought spells.

The people went to the stadium and went to their chair to fly their red and green flags and sing their songs and never stopped.

Even when the world champions struck within two minutes, so that the most unbearable strokes were inflicted. Not even when their team left four goals. Both teams wore black bracelets, and the fans continued to sing and insisted on non -abnormal support.

In the 20th minute they got up to sing the player’s song who didn’t wear 20 on his back for one of the world’s largest teams.

Jota was also no stranger to the women’s football world. Last year at International Women’s Day he described how Brazilian legend Marta is the role model that he hopes that his daughter and two sons grow up, together with tennis legend Serena Williams.

As Portugal’s head coach Francisco Neto said, Jota was “someone who followed the Navegadores (Portugal Women’s team) closely.” He added: ‘We had to bring the group (of players) together this morning. It was a difficult moment for everyone. We are deeply sad – there are not many words. The only thing we can say is that he will never be forgotten. ‘

A fan, Pedro Macedo, 22, who came from Porto himself, the birthplace of the two brothers, described how he had followed Jota’s journey all his life – from Pacos de Ferreira to Porto to Wolves and then to Liverpool.

“I brushed my teeth when my mother was in the kitchen and said,” Diogo Jota died “. I thought it was fake news, but then I turned on my television and every Portuguese channel was talking about it, “he said.

Portugal supporters paid their respect to Jota, who embodied who they are as a nation

A fan holds a photo of Jota up as a tribute to the Liverpool star for the game in Bern

The news of the death of Diogo Jota sent shock waves through the football world

Portugal Women -Coach Francisco Neto stated that Jota followed the team closely

‘It was a shock for me because I liked his way of playing and for me he was the best example of the Portuguese player. He fought hard, he had a good technique and his attacking game was great. ‘

And that’s just that. There was an unmistakable feeling that the people of Jota feel that he was the embodiment of who they are as a nation. Determined, well -founded and compassionate.

Another Portugal fan, Antonio Rodrigues, 28, said he found the news shocking, especially because he and Jota were the same age – “it’s as if a friend of yours died.”

He added: ‘I know that many professional players play for money, but he played for Portugal and for his image, and I like that side of him.

“He was a classic Portuguese. We Portuguese love our country and everything we do is for our country. Nowadays the Portuguese people are here to support our Portuguese team – it’s a new thing in football and we are so connected.

‘We are connected to these little things and we are strong. We are small in the country, but we are very large in everything. In football, in personality, and you can ask who you want, how are the Portuguese and they tell you what I tell you.

“It’s a difficult game for Portugal, but today they will play with a different force.”

They could not find an explanation, but they got up and they sang – for him, for each other and for Portugal.