If anyone had any doubts about the real worth of the Portugal under-19 team, the festival and Norway’s thrashing (5-0) in the semi-finals of the European Football Championship tried to dispel them. The opponent in tomorrow’s final (20.00, RTP1) will be Italy, and Portugal can win the trophy for the second time in history, after winning in 2018, curiously enough also against the Italians.
Even without key players like André Gomes and João Neves, from Benfica, Diego Moreira, who signed for Chelsea, and the lions Chermiti and Dário Essugo, this generation of future stars exceeds expectations, not only for the triumphs, but also for the quality of football. And there are several young people who stand out.
Yesterday, the Spanish sports newspaper Marca devoted an article to Hugo Félix, 19 years old, brother of João Félix, probably the player most noticed in the tournament taking place in Malta. “His appearance in this European Championship is no coincidence. With a contract until 2027 and with his youth, he has everything to succeed at Benfica and to rule the world of football,” the neighboring newspaper wrote, recalling that “the little golden boy already scores three goals in four games in the European and shows the Old Continent [Europa] what you are capable of”.
Hugo, who plays as an attacking midfielder, will make the switch to Benfica’s B-team this season. And last season he shone for the Reds under-23, scoring 13 goals in 30 games. In the service of the under-19s, he has already scored 12 caps and six goals, three of them in this European Championship.
Another young man who catches the eye is Rodrigo Ribeiro, an 18-year-old Sporting striker, who has been called up several times in recent seasons to train with the Lions main team and who even had the opportunity to be under the command of to play. by Rúben Amorim – participated in five games in 2021-2022 and two last season. For the under-19s, he has nine games and already has three goals to his name.
“We believe a lot in Rodrigo. Maybe I believe in him more than myself. He is always an option for the first team. I watch all their games.” [equipa B]I know what they run and the high intensity they have”, recently praised Rúben Amorim. Rodrigo is a modern striker who can play any attacking position, physically strong and aggressive in the finishing zones.
From Goncalo to Gabriel
Gonçalo Esteves, a 19-year-old right defender, also with Sporting, is another star of the team. He did almost all of his training with FC Porto and arrived in Alvalade in the 2021-2022 season, still a first-year junior. Even at a very young age, and due to Pedro Porro’s injury, Amorim launched him into the first team, where he was used in 10 matches. Last season he was loaned to Estoril, but did not play much due to an injury. He returned to Alvalade in January to be included in the B team.
João Vasconcelos, 18, a Sporting de Braga midfielder, also stood out. The player who takes inspiration from Kevin de Bruyne, a Belgium international for Manchester City, has no First League experience – he plays for Arsenal’s under-23 team – but will certainly get a chance from the new season Coach Arthur George. In this European Championship, he already scored two goals, one in the 5-1 defeat of Italy in the group stage and one in the victory (2-1) over Malta.
Gabriel Brás, 19 years old, central defender of FC Porto, is the Portuguese under-19 player with the most time in this European Championship, totalist in the four games the national team has already played and with two goals (Poland and Malta) , which is still relevant given the position it occupies in the field.
The pivotal figure in the Dragons formation made a total of 23 appearances for FC Porto’s under-19 team last season and also made three appearances for the B-squad. He already has 10 caps for the under-19 in Portugal.
Martim Marques, 19 years old, left defender, is also one of the most used by coach Joaquim Milheiro – he played in four games, with a total of 279 minutes. Last season he represented Sporting’s under-20s and was recently sold for €400,000 to Swiss I-League Lugano, ending a 13-year association with the Lions.
victory culture
This under-19 group is led by Joaquim Milheiro, a 44-year-old coach who started at this level this year, having worked at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-18, alongside having played assistant at under-19 and under-20 level. At club level, he became a physical trainer for Portimonense and Leixões, and held the same position abroad, at FC Vaslui, in Romania, at Raja Casablanca, in Morocco, and at Interclube, in Angola.
“The goal is to be able to achieve what we have been developing for five years, to be competent throughout the competition, a team that plays quality football and that allows the appreciation of the team and the players so that they can do more are.” well prepared for the challenges of the future, within a winning culture,” he said ahead of the European Championship.
Now the dream is the limit for these guys who are just one step away from rewriting history and repeating the feat of 2018, when the under-19 team coached by Hélio Sousa defeated Italy in the final, with 4 -3, after overtime.
In that selection were names such as goalkeeper Diogo Costa, nowadays holder of FC Porto and the national team, David Carmo (FC Porto), Florentino Luís (Benfica), Jota (Al Ittihad), Francisco Trincão (Sporting), Nuno Santos (Sporting) , among other things. And there is a good indication for the final, as Portugal defeated Italy 5-1 in the group stage.
Source: DN
