France’s Ligue 1 is rapidly growing as a focal point for a number of the more interesting stories involving Portugal’s foreign-based contingent of coaches and players this season.

The early-season performances of André Villas-Boas and Paulo Sousa in charge of Marseille and Bordeaux respectively have lit up the league, while Renato Sanches may finally have found a stable home at Lille thanks to the guidance of coach Christophe Galtier.

  1.   2 Comment
  2.   1351 Views
  Andre/UK — I agree with the comment regarding Renato for the Selecao. Hopefully he continues this good form for the rest of the season, so as to be selected for the squad for the Euros. He offers something to our midfield that nobody else does: athleticism and super intensity in his play. Very useful attribute......
  Daniel S — Hoping Renato keeps up the solid form. He is a MUST for the Selecao roster this summer as long as he is getting consistent playing time. Despite having a few rough years, I trust him in critical moments for Portugal....

Portuguese boss Marco Silva has been dismissed as coach of Premier League side Everton after 18 months in charge at Goodison Park. The former Sporting man leaves with The Toffees currently 18th in the table after a 5-2 defeat to Merseyside rivals Liverpool last night.

Overall Silva led Everton in 53 Premier League matches, winning 19, drawing 11 and losing 23 of his games at the helm. Everton were Silva’s third job in English football, having spent brief spells with Hull City and Watford before heading to the North West.

The draw for the 2020 Copa America was made on Wednesday, and for Colombia’s Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz preparation continues to win the trophy for just the second time in the country’s history.

The draw split the 12 participating nations into two groups of six, with Colombia drawn in Group B [northern zone] alongside defending champions Brazil, as well as Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and guests Qatar. Fellow outside participants Australia were drawn in Group A [southern zone] with Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay.

  1.   3 Comment
  2.   862 Views
  QueirozisTheWorst — Michael, I don't usually Comment and I don't mean to be Disrespectful to you, but Queiroz does Not Garner Any Love from Portuguese Fans. You're Right He did have an Average Record - And You're Also Right that his Team was Average - And Guess what - He was Responsible for that Gross-Average Time in o......
  Michael — Queiroz had an average record with Portugal with a very average Portuguese team when compared to 07 and the current crop of talent. He remains a very respected and liked coach globally with an impressive CV. Good luck to him and well done achieving 90% more than the loudest and most one eyed critics......
  Paulo6 — No Sarcasm here... Best of luck Colombia- with this stubborn pig headed mule...

Jose Mourinho had long been linked with a return to English football. Rumours suggested he had an eye on the Arsenal job, with the manager Unai Emery under intense pressure, and indeed sacked in recent days.

However, it was the Gunners’ London rivals Tottenham Hotspur that many always believed to be the better fit for “the special one”; especially with reports linking Spurs manager Pochettino to Bayern Munich, apparently ruling the Portuguese coach out of the running for the top job in Bavaria. Ever since Mourinho was officially made the man in charge at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, speculation has been rife that Sporting captain Bruno Fernandes could join him at the London club, and Mourinho has now directly addressed the issue. 

Another lengthy Liga NOS break finally came to an end this weekend as Jornada 12 resumed the domestic league action in Portugal’s top flight. Benfica and Porto’s comfortable wins ensured it is as you were in 1st and 2nd place, with 3rd place Famalicao just starting to falter a little after a fast start, slipping to defeat at Portimonense.

Moreirense condemned Aves to yet another loss in a thrilling 3-2, but the standout result of the round saw Gil Vicente pull off quite an upset by beating Sporting 3-1. Veteran manager Vítor Oliveira masterminded his second “big 3” scalp of the season, and he is the PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.

Sporting have suffered a fresh setback in a thus far turbulent season after losing 3-1 to Gil Vicente away from home, last Sunday.

The Lions were up against it following goals from Bozhidar Kraev and Sandro Lima either side of Wendel’s first-half equaliser, with Zakaria Naidji sealing the visitors’ fate late on for Gil Vicente’s third.

Defeat for Federico Varandas’ men came after their cross-city rivals, Benfica, distanced themselves even further at the top of the table with a comfortable 4-0 win at home to Marítimo on Saturday night.

Famalicão’s second loss of the season, at the hands of Portimonense, also saw the newly-promoted side fall nine points behind the Eagles, meanwhile FC Porto kept the pressure on with their 2-0 victory over Paços de Ferreira at home, maintaining a two-point gap.

Elsewhere, there was a 2-0 win for Sporting de Braga in their Europa League-scented clash against Rio Ave at home, subsequently edging themselves closer to the qualification spots. Here’s the peak of this weekend’s action.

Of course Portugal would get the Group of Death at the Euro 2020 draw.

In episode 26 of the Seleção Podcast, host Danny Pinto is joined by PortuGOAL’s Tom Kundert to review the draw for next summer’s European Championship, which has pitched the defending champions against Germany and France in Group F.

We also take a look back at 2019 for the Seleção. 

  1.   6 Comment
  2.   2700 Views
  Mike — We have the talent to beat every team on the planet. The key to winning will be our mentality. Especially in regards to the younger players. Felix, Fernandes, B Silva, Neves etc. During the world cup the whole team looked nervous. Guedes, Fernandes, Bernardo were completely off their game. Hopefully......
  Jerrold Hewson — I'm nervous and excited at the same time...
  Angelo — France and Germany are in a group of death, not us. This should be business as usual. Remember, we're the reigning European Champions- them two need to beat us. We don't necessarily need to beat them....

Renato Sanches played only his third full ninety minutes of the season this weekend, but the impressive nature of the Portugal midfielder’s performance in Lille’s 1-0 win over Dijon has led to much optimism.

Sanches returned to the Lille line-up for the first time since September at the State Pierre-Mauroy on Saturday, joining José Fonte and Xeka in Christophe Galtier’s side. Victor Osimhen’s penalty on the stroke of half time gave the hosts all three points and lifted Lille up to 8th place with a much-needed victory.

  1.   2 Comment
  2.   1038 Views
  jon/usa — A fully fit, confident Renato Sanches would be a massive boost to the Seleção. I can't see him starting over the likes of William or Bruno Fernandes, but I'd much rather have a hungry Renato to call upon to add some spark and energy than a João Mário or Pizzi....
  Jerrold Hewson — Just in time for the group of death...

The final day of the Korean K League 1 saw a dramatic finish as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors came from three points behind to retain their title at the expense of Ulsan.

Jeonbuk, coached by Portuguese José Morais, appeared to have lost out on a third successive championship last week when they failed to beat Ulsan away from home. The 1-1 draw between the sides meant Ulsan had a 3-point advantage heading into today’s home clash with Pohang Steelers and needed just a point to seal glory.

Wry smiles and audible gasps were aplenty at the Euro 2020 draw in Bucharest this afternoon as Portugal were landed in Group F alongside France, Germany and one other team, as yet unknown.

The final opponent awaiting the defending champions will only be known in March and will be one of Iceland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania*, the winner of that quartet in the playoffs. Portugal will contest their group stage matches in Budapest and Munich. 

  1.   21 Comment
  2.   7315 Views
  Thomas Pinto — Its most disappointing that we have to face both Germany and France. Had our manager Fernando Santos got his tactics and line ups correct we would not be in this predicament. Very sad to still see support for Fernando Santos. He has no business being manager of Portugal. He is well passed his sel......
  Ivan — Italy and Belgium will destroy their respective groups...
  Christopher Santos — Definitely in the hardest group, possibly one of the toughest groups ever, if Iceland make it through the play off. On the plus side, to my mind we actually seem to do a little better against tougher opposition in the group stages of European Championships....

More Articles ...

  1. Jorge Jesus: The outsider who conquered Brazil
  2. Europa League: All smiles for Sporting, Porto and Braga, Vitória unlucky again
  3. Benfica blow two-goal lead to end Champions League hopes
  4. Portuguese Abroad round-up: Flamengo clinch title; Djaló shines for Lille; Sousa beats Jardim; AvB, Fonseca win; Damaging loss for Silva; Setback for Pereira, Morais in Asia
  5. Portugal 2019 - Euro 2020 qualification secured & UEFA Nations League success

      

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s a group with the three winners of the last three major tournaments. But we believe in our possibilities and we believe we can win.”

Fernando Santos
(Portugal coach reacts to tough Euro 2020 draw for the Seleção) 
PortuGOAL pwa
At-a-glance
The Thirteenth Chapter

PortuGOAL RSS

feed-image Feed Entries

Partners

ZeroZero
maisfutebol.iol.pt