Eight participations in European under-21s, three lost finals and zero titles. This is the problem that Portugal wants to break in the tournament that starts today in Georgia and Romania, where the team coached by Rui Jorge no longer wants to be the only team (all levels included) that has never managed to win a trophy at the give FPF. The walk starts today (5 p.m., RTP1), when the team makes its debut from the corners against the Georgians in Group A, which also includes the Netherlands (24th) and Belgium (27th).
In addition to the coveted title missing from the Cidade do Futebol museum, this tournament could also allow Portugal to secure one of three available seats for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This is the ninth time that Portugal has reached the final stages of a European championship at this level, proof that they reached the final three times but were always defeated. The last one took place two years ago, in Slovenia, against Germany (1-0 defeat), but was already in 1994 (0-1 against Italy, after extra time) and in 2015 (3-4 against Sweden in the tiebreak).
The national team starts the tournament with a light weight. Fábio Vieira, Arsenal midfielder and one of the most influential players in Rui Jorge’s chess game, was sacked due to injury (as was Tomás Tavares) and replaced by Diego Moreira, Benfica winger. João Mário, Tiago Djaló and Tomás Esteves were not included in the selection, also due to an injury.
The big news on the list of the chosen ones was 18-year-old midfielder João Neves, who took over as starter in Benfica’s team that won the league title. The fate chosen also includes goalkeeper Francisco Meixedo, of FC Porto B, who has never played at under-21 level, but had already been called up in November 2022, when he suffered a long-term injury.
With 12 players in Portugal and 11 abroad, Wolverhampton striker Pedro Neto is the only one on the list to have senior squad experience.
Rui Jorge, who will accompany the under-21s for the fourth time after 2015, 2017 and 2021 in a final phase of the European Championship, today expects a match in which Portugal will experience “difficulties”.
“I can’t say before the game that 0-0 is a bad result. We always want to win, but it will very much depend on how this game goes. They are two different teams. I think Georgia is physically superior, but we have better teams. Players. They have central defenders who are physically strong and courageous to play, aggressiveness in midfield and a versatile athlete with great passing quality in position 10,” he said, agreeing that the opponent is less strong due to the absence of Kvaratskhelia , player of Napoli.
Rui Jorge also regretted the absence of Fábio Vieira: “The numbers show what Fábio is in terms of our team and our way of playing. He has been with us since the last generation and of course he will be missed, just like the others.” players who were injured. I’m very sorry for those who couldn’t be here due to injury, but we have players of tremendous quality in the squad.”
According to the Transfermarkt website, the Portuguese squad is valued at 169.70 million euros. The most valuable is Pedro Neto (32M), followed by Vitinha (22) and André Almeida (20). The footballer present in the tournament with the most market value is Ukrainian Mudryk, from Chelsea (60M).
Opponent’s weapons
Portugal will make its debut today against Georgia, a team that met it for the first time in September 2022 in a friendly match in Covilhã that ended in a defeat (4-1). Coach Ramaz Svanadze has players such as goalkeeper Mamardashvili (Valencia), defender Azarovi (Red Est.), midfielder Davitashvili (Bordeaux) and striker Tsitaishvili (Lech). But it does not have the company’s biggest star, striker Kvaratskhelia (Naples), who renounced participation in the tournament.
Against the Netherlands, on the 24th, there is a technical draw – five wins for each side, plus five draws. Group 5 qualification winner, coach Erwin van de Looi has defender Devyne Rensch (Ajax), midfielders Kenneth Taylor (Ajax), Ludovit Reis (Hamburg), Ekkelenkamp (Antwerp) and Gravenberch (B. Munich) and also attacker Zirkzee (Bologna) , Brobbey (Ajax) and Thijs Dallinga (Toulouse).
The team from the corners also met forces with Belgium (0-0) 16 years ago, in the only match in the final phase, after three draws and two losses. Coach Jacky Mathijssen presents goalkeeper Vandevoordt (Genk), defender Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), midfielder Matazo (Monaco) and attackers Lois Openda (Lens) and Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan).
Source: DN
