Portugal routs Switzerland 10-0 in roller hockey World Championship opener with Miguel Rocha hat-trick
Miguel Rocha scored three times between the 27th and 31st minutes as Portugal opened the men's roller hockey World Championship in Asunción with a 10-0 win over Switzerland at the COP Arena on Monday, 12 October.
Opening win in Asunción
Portugal opened the men's World Championship on Monday, 12 October, with a 10-0 win over Switzerland at the COP Arena in Asunción, Paraguay, in the first round of Group A. The match is part of the World Skate Games being held in the Paraguayan capital. José Miranda opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with a solo run past the Swiss defence and goalkeeper Guillaume Oberson. Carlos Ramos made it 2-0 in the 15th minute with a close-range shot, and Rafael Bessa added a third in the 22nd minute from a tight angle after a pass by Miguel Rocha. Portugal led 3-0 at half-time, and João Rodrigues struck the crossbar in the last action of the first half.
Miguel Rocha's hat-trick
After the restart, Xano Edo replaced Pedro Henriques in goal and answered a chance from Gian Rettenmund. Miguel Rocha then scored three times between the 27th and 31st minutes. His first goal came on a rebound after Oberson saved a penalty in the 27th minute, the second was a chipped finish in the 28th minute, and the third came after a persistent move in the 31st minute. Carlos Ramos scored again in the 35th minute after a recovery and an assist from João Rodrigues, who scored in the 37th minute with an aerial finish. Hélder Nunes netted in the 47th minute, and João Rodrigues completed his brace in the 48th minute.
- José Miranda scores, Portugal 1-0
- Carlos Ramos scores, Portugal 2-0
- Rafael Bessa scores, Portugal 3-0
- Miguel Rocha scores from a rebound after a saved penalty, Portugal 4-0
- Miguel Rocha scores, Portugal 5-0
- Miguel Rocha scores, Portugal 6-0
- Carlos Ramos scores, Portugal 7-0
- João Rodrigues scores, Portugal 8-0
- Hélder Nunes scores, Portugal 9-0
- João Rodrigues scores, Portugal 10-0
Squad and coach
Reinaldo Ventura is the new coach of the side. Pedro Henriques, João Rodrigues and Carlitos came into the squad for Guga, Rafa and Alvarinho, while a core of the team that won the European title in Paredes in 2025 remained. Portugal won in Barcelona in 2019, finished fourth in 2022 and lost the decider in 2024. Earlier, Ventura told the Lusa news agency:
I like a very combative, intense team, with players who defend each other. That will be Portugal's strongest point.
Ventura on the win
After the match, Ventura praised the effort of his players even as the score kept growing, and said the squad stayed committed to the team system. He highlighted the defensive display in particular.
Defensively they were impeccable, and finishing the game without conceding a goal was also an objective we met.
He said the game served to prepare for the next match and keep spirits high. Ventura also linked the scale of the win to the team's attitude, and described the Spain match as a contest against a side of similar level to Portugal.
Our attitude had a lot to do with it, we took the game very seriously.
Ventura said the competition becomes serious on Tuesday, 13 October, when Portugal play Spain at 21:45 Lisbon time.
Group A and the title race
Portugal and Spain each have three points after the first round. Spain beat Italy 3-2 in the same round, while Italy and Switzerland remain on zero points. Portugal face Spain in the second round on Tuesday, 13 October, at 21:45 Lisbon time. Spain, Italy, France and Argentina are named as title contenders among Portugal's opponents, and Portugal arrived with legitimate aspirations to contest the title after winning the European crown in 2025.
