Rui Jorge’s Portugal U21 team took a huge step towards qualification for next summer’s Euro by beating Croatia 2-0 with an impressive performance in Karlovac.
Second half goals by Paulo Bernardo and Carlos Borges consolidated the Seleção’s place at the summit of Group G.
Despite Portugal’s reputation as a team of attacking superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Eusébio and Luís Figo, you cannot win games without solid defensive play.
Portugal has been home to some of football’s steadiest and most storied defenders throughout the years, soccer players who are able to anchor their team by reading the game like masters, whilst showing leadership, understanding of tactics and defensive knowhow.
Few footballers are considered good enough for selection to their national teams at the ripe old age of 39. As we’re sure you know, however, Cristiano Ronaldo is not your average player.
He is an icon widely recognised as one of the best footballers of all time.
Despite his age, he is still a key performer and Portugal’s most reliable goalscorer. This is all thanks to his dedication, incredible fitness, experience and goalscoring instinct. As proven in the recent Nations League matches against Croatia and Scotland, he remains one of the national team’s most potent weapons.
Former FC Porto boss Sérgio Conceição has been speaking about the late Sven-Göran Eriksson, who managed the Portuguese during a highly-successful spell in Italy with Lazio.
Winger Conceição spent two years as Eriksson’s player between 1998-2000, during which time the club from the capital won a host of trophies, including Lazio’s second and most recent Scudetto title in the latter campaign.
On a LIVE episode 95 of The Seleção Podcast, host Danny Pinto was joined by PortuGOAL.net Seleção correspondent Nathan Motz as they reviewed Portugal’s two wins over Croatia and Scotland to open up 2024-25 Nations League group phase.
Danny and Nathan discussed Cristiano Ronaldo coming off the bench to score the game-winner in the 88th minute against Scotland and if that role could be the next chapter in his Seleção career.
The guys also discussed Roberto Martínez’s first couple of games without Pepe after starting Gonçalo Inácio versus Croatia and Antonio Silva versus Scotland, alongside Rúben Dias, as well as the positive football played by Raphael Leão, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, and much more.
Portugal made it two wins in the UEFA Nations League after beating Scotland 2-1 at Estádio da Luz.
The Seleção found themselves 1-0 down in the 7th minute when Scott McTominay headed Kenny McLean’s cross past Diogo Costa.
Portugal dominated proceedings with Rafael Leão heavily involved, the Scots holding on until half-time when Cristiano Ronaldo was introduced off the bench.
Bruno Fernandes converted a Leão cross to level the scores in the 58th minute. João Félix went close and Ronaldo hit the woodwork twice but he wouldn’t be denied.
The winning goal came in the 88th minute, Nuno Mendes’ cross picking out Ronaldo who found the net from close range.
Matthew Marshall reports from Estádio da Luz.
Bruno Lage has been appointed head coach of Benfica, signing a two-year contract at the Estádio da Luz.
The 48-year-old returns to the club he led to the championship in 2018/19, replacing Roger Schmidt who was sacked following the 1-1 draw against Moreirense last week. Tom Kundert reports from the Portuguese capital.
It is the most watched sports league on the planet, showcasing some of the world’s most historic football clubs and an array of talent from all over the globe. One country that has featured highly in the Premier League’s talent tables is Portugal.
Whether that be in the dugout, with the example of illustrious winning machine José Mourinho or, on the pitch with the talent and skills of players like Ricardo Carvalho, Luís Boa Morte and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.
In recent years there has been an influx of new, Portuguese talent into the Premier League, kick started by Wolverhampton Wanderers whose links with super-agent Jorge Mendes have given them a particular penchant for players from the Iberian Peninsula.
In this article we take a look at 3 Portuguese players who are worth keeping an eye on in the coming 2024/25 Premier League campaign. Read on to find out who they are…
The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League draw presents a formidable challenge for Portuguese teams Benfica and Sporting CP.
Both clubs are set to face some of Europe’s top sides, requiring them to navigate a particularly demanding league phase to have any hope of advancing to the knockout stages.
Both sides may be outsiders at the major betting sites to win the Champions League, but we take a closer look at the challenges Benfica and Sporting will face over the eight matchdays.
Portugal’s UEFA Nations League campaign got off to a winning start after defeating Croatia 2-1 at Estádio da Luz.
The Seleção got off to a fast start in Lisbon and took the lead in the 8th minute. Bruno Fernandes found Diogo Dalot in the box, the right-back holding off Borna Sosa and firing through Dominik Livaković.
Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the advantage in the 34th minute, getting onto the end of a pinpoint cross from Nuno Mendes and volleying past Livaković.
Croatia reduced the deficit four minutes before the break when Borna Sosa steered an Andrej Kramarić cross into the danger area, Dalot’s outstretched leg diverting the ball past Diogo Costa.
Roberto Martínez made two substitutions at the break and switched to a back three. The second half failed to produce any goals, Ronaldo heavily involved before coming off to a standing ovation.
Portugoal's Matthew Marshall reports from Estádio da Luz.
PortuGOAL's Matthew Marshall and Tom Kundert discuss the start of the 2024/25 Primeira Liga season from top to bottom, breaking down Sporting CP, Porto, Vitoria de Guimarães, Famalicão, Santa Clara, Braga, Benfica, Moreirense, Rio Ave, Gil Vicente, AVS, Nacional, Boavista, Arouca, Casa Pia, Estoril, Estrela da Amadora and Farense.
Mat goes on another rant and we end with a look at the Seleção before the UEFA Nations League kicks off. Music is this episode comes from Limp Bizkit's "The Truth".
After an exciting summer with the Euros, the domestic seasons have also begun, and football supporters around the world are looking forward to the new look of UEFA competitions. In this article, we’ll explore which Portuguese teams have qualified for European competitions and assess their chances of success.
Portugal midfielder João Mário officially departed Benfica on Wednesday, signing for Turkish giants Besiktas on a loan deal with a mandatory purchase clause of €5m.
In a heartfelt and elaborate interview on his way out, the Euro 2016 winner admitted that whilst he enjoyed the best period of his career with the club, the circumstances surrounding his exit leave him a little disappointed.
The end of the transfer window inevitably brings a flurry of late activity in the market, and Portuguese footballers are typically well represented as they take on new challenges abroad.
While the likes of João Cancelo and João Félix dominated much of the coverage with their moves to Saudi Arabia and England respectively, @SeanGillen9 takes a look at the full rundown of all the Portuguese who switched clubs during the last few weeks of the window.
This week the Long Ball Futebol podcast welcomes guests Kevin Fernandes (@kevinaraujof) and Andrew Batista (@andrewgbatista).
Up for discussion is Roger Schmidt being sacked by Benfica, Sporting beating Porto in the first Clássico of the Primeira Liga season, and the highly impressive start to the season by Vitória and Famalicão.
There was a time when coming to Porto meant entering a gritty, foggy and unsavoury world of hard-working and dodgy men — a place where beauty and gallantry had no room. That time is no more. No club has experienced such a dramatic change in identity in so few months as the Dragões, since André Villas-Boas surprisingly ended Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa’s longstanding reign as club chairman.
It was a bold move by the former manager, one fuelled by years of frustration among many club members that became even more clear in the dramatic events of the club’s general assembly back in November, where several ultra-group members physically and verbally abused many sócios while the president and his board stood still and watched unimpressed.
Deadline day deals in Portuguese transfer market
It was a hectic deadline day in the Portuguese transfer market yesterday, with some big deals completed, namely the sale of Benfica striker Marco Leonardo to Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal and the purchase of Danish striker Conrad Harder by Sporting.
The biggest one of them all though – Porto winger Wenderson Galeno to Al-Ittihad for €50 million – fell through in unusual circumstances as it was vetoed at the last minute by the Saudi club’s CEO Domingos Soares de Oliveira, who spent years on Benfica’s board.
PortuGOAL rounds up the main deals that were completed in the final days the summer transfer window in Portugal.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo kicked off preparations for the Nations League with a frank and open press conference as the Seleção squad assembled at the Cidade do Futebol on the outskirts of Lisbon.
Ronaldo and Roberto Martínez came in for harsh criticism after Portugal were knocked out in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 by France, but the 39-year-old articulated an alternative point of view, saying expectations were unrealistically high and opining that the team played a good tournament.
Scorer of 130 goals for his country, Ronaldo also said he has no intention of retiring from the international game, adding that the criticism directed his way only spurs him on.
Tom Kundert rounds up the main quotes.
Paulo Fonseca is not enjoying the smoothest start to life as AC Milan manager, with the Portuguese having to deal with irritating side issues after a winless first three match.
The Rossoneri have drawn two and lost one of their opening matches, leaving them in the bottom third of the Serie A standings heading into the international break. Rafael Leão salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw at Lazio on Saturday, but the Seleção man was also part of a unnecessary side drama picked up by the Italian media.
Portuguese champions Sporting Clube de Portugal went clear at the top of the Primeira Liga after beating FC Porto 2-0 in Lisbon tonight.
The Lions edged a hard-fought match, creating the better and more numerous chances, but it needed a typically powerful piece of play by Viktor Gyökeres to break the deadlock in the 72nd minute, the Swede winning and converting a penalty.
Geny Catamo made sure of the three points with a fine injury-time strike. Tom Kundert reports from Alvalade.
Roger Schmidt’s spell as Benfica manager is over, less than 24 hours after a dubious added time penalty secured a last gasp 1-1 draw at Moreirense.
Eagles president Rui Costa, who looked like a defeated man himself in Moreira de Cónegos, announced the departure of the German coach at a press conference in Seixal.
“Roger Schmidt is no longer the coach of Benfica. I confirm this. I want to thank him for all his efforts, two titles and for the players he has trained.”
The club had already sent a statement to the Securities Market Commission (CMVM), informing them that negotiations to terminate the contract were underway.
Costa is likely to have a successor lined up, Leonardo Jardim rumoured to be the next boss at Estádio da Luz.
Moreirense continued their fine start to the season under new coach César Peixoto.
A shot by Lawrence Ofori in the 85th minute that deflected past Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin seemed to have given the hosts all three points.
However, a penalty deep in injury time converted by Marcos Leonardo fixed the final result in a 1-1 draw, but the pressure will intensify on Benfica coach Roger Schmidt after another poor performance. Tom Kundert reports.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has announced the squad for next week’s Nations League matches against Croatia and Scotland in Lisbon.
The Spaniard has selected youngsters Geovany Quenda, Renato Veiga and Tiago Santos for the first time in a list of 25 players.
If the start of the Primeira Liga season wasn’t exciting enough, we’ve only had to wait until Jornada 4 before our first big clássico. It’s first place versus second as reigning champions Sporting host a Porto team who’ve won every competitive game so far under their new manager Vítor Bruno.
Albert Carter-Phillips brings you PortuGOAL’s preview of the big clash on Saturday night and the rest of the top weekend action in Portugal’s top flight.
Braga earned a 2-2 draw against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League play-off second leg to win 4-3 on aggregate and qualify for the league phase.
The Austrian club took the lead in the 7th minute through Bright Arrey-Mbi's own goal. Arrey-Mbi was in the action again in the 47th minute, a failed clearance resulting in Isak Jansson making it 2-0.
Gabri Martínez instigated two quick fire goals for the Warriors, the first coming in the 68th minute when the Spanish won a penalty that was converted by Amine El Ouazzani.
Martínez burst into the box two minutes later and teed up Ricardo Horta who put Braga back into the driver’s seat.
Carlos Carvalhal's side closed it out to join Porto in the Europa League league phase, five Portuguese clubs to compete in UEFA competitions this season.
At the fourth time of asking a Portuguese club has finally made it through the UEFA Conference League qualifying stages and will take part in the competition proper.
Vitória became the first Liga Portugal club to qualify for UEFA’s third-tier competition and did so in style, beating Zrinjski Mostar 4-0 in Bosnia-Herzegovina to complete a 7-0 aggregate victory.
Rui Borges’ men have also achieved the notable feat of winning all six of their qualifying/playoff matches in this season’s competition.
Portuguese attacker Jota Silva made quite the impression on his first start for new club Nottingham Forest, scoring in their League Cup clash with Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Having made his Premier League debut as a substitute in stoppage time at the end of Forest’s victory over Southampton at the weekend, Jota was handed his full debut by Nuno Espírito Santo against the Magpies, who progressed at Forest’s expense via penalties at the City Ground.
Sporting have completed the signing of Uruguayan international Maximiliano Araújo, paying a fee of close to €15 million for the 24-year-old who signs a five-year contract at Alvalade, with a buyout clause of €80m.
The attacking left-back increases Sporting’s options in a position where adaptions have had to be made following the early-season absence of first-choice left-back Nuno Santos. Santos made his return from injury on Friday against Farense and will now battle it out with Araújo for the starting berth.
Portugal international João Cancelo has become the latest Seleção star to join the Saudi Pro League, signing for reigning champions Al Hilal from Manchester City.
Al Hilal have reportedly paid €25m to add Cancelo to Jorge Jesus’ squad, where he will team up with international colleague Rúben Neves at Kingdom Arena.
Two more Portuguese players were announced by Serie A clubs over the last 24 hours, as Francisco Conceição joined Juventus from FC Porto and Rui Patrício signed with Atalanta on a free transfer.
Chico Conceição will earn Porto an initial €7m fee for his one-year loan at Juve, which could rise to €10m depending on add-ons, after which the Bianconeri will likely have an option to make the deal permanent. Patrício had been without a club since leaving Roma at the end of last season.
