Portugal are making their final preparations for the 2023 UEFA European U19 Championship in Malta.

The Equipa das Quinas have been drawn in Group A alongside the hosts, Poland and Italy. Their campaign begins against Poland, the match taking place in Paola on 3 July. 

Eight nations are competing in the tournament with Joaquim Milheiro’s side attempting to lift the trophy for the second time. They won in Finland in 2018, defeating Italy 4-3 in extra time in the final.

Portugal have a proud history at the tournament, winning in 1961 when it was the UEFA Youth Tournament. They won in 1994 and 1999 when it was the UEFA European U18 Championship.

Their last involvement in the European U19 Championship was in 2019 when they reached the final in Armenia, going down 2-0 to Spain.

Portugal prolonged their 2023 European U21 Championship campaign after an exciting 2-1 win against Belguim at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium.

Rui Jorge’s side took the lead in the 56th minute when Fábio Silva’s deflected cross fell perfectly for João Neves, the midfielder executing a textbook volley that gave Maarten Vandevoordt no chance.

Belgium equalised nine minutes later when substitute Yorbe Vertessen headed Loïs Openda’s cross past Celton Biai.

The Equipa das Quinas had to win to have any chance of staying in the tournament and were given a glorious opportunity minutes before added time.

Zeno Debast failed to clear the ball and compounded his error by taking out Henrique Araújo, Portugal awarded a penalty that Tiago Dantas buried into the bottom corner.

Six minutes of added time were navigated before confirmation that Georgia had drawn 1-1 against the Netherlands, the results combining to send Portugal into the quarter-finals where they will take on England.

Portugal picked up their first point at the 2023 UEFA European U21 Championship after a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium.

Celton Biai made an important save in Tbilisi before Rui Jorge’s side took the lead in the 20th minute, André Almeida producing a classy finish to convert Pedro Neto’s cross.

Brian Brobbey spurned a presentable chance in the second half but the Ajax striker wouldn’t be denied, scoring at the back post in the 78th minute after Wouter Burger headed a cornerdirectly into his path.

The Equipa das Quinas’ equation is simple, beat Belgium on Tuesday and hope the Netherlands don’t defeat Georgia, or get on the first plane home.

Portugal’s 2023 European U21 Championship campaign got off to a horror start in Tbilisi where they suffered a 2-0 defeat against co-hosts Georgia.

The Equipa das Quinas monopolised possession at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena but couldn’t do anything with it, some sloppy defending resulting in two goals conceded before the break.

Giorgi Gagua outmuscled Tomás Araújo in the 37th minute and fired the ball into the bottom corner, Saba Sazonov left completely unmarked in added time when he headed a corner past Celton Biai.

Rui Jorge introduced Francisco Conceição and Henrique Araújo at the break, Conceição’s cross deflected off the bar representing the closest Portugal came to breaching Georgia’s determined defence.

Tomás Araújo’s evening went from bad to worse in the 76th minute when he received a straight red card and there was no way back. Jorge’s side face an uphill battle to reach the knockout rounds with Belgium and the Netherlands their next opponents in Group A.