Portugal could book their place in the knockout stages of the U20 World Cup if they beat Qatar on Wednesday. The Seleção earned a well-deserved 3-0 victory against Senegal in their opening match on the weekend, thanks to goals by Gelson Martins, Nuno Santos and André Silva.

Qatar are making only their third appearance in the tournament. However, the Middle Eastern nation should not be taken lightly. They won their qualifying tournament and lost by a narrow 1-0 score line to Colombia in their first group stage match.

PortuGoal previews Portugal-Qatar.

Rui Jorge also announces U21 Euro 2015 squad

Seleção coach Fernando Santos has given his strongest sign yet that the long-awaited renewal of the senior Portuguese national team is in full swing.

Daniel Carriço (pictured), Bernardo Silva, Danilo Pereira, André André and Pizzi are all rewarded for excellent seasons at their club sides by making the squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Armenia and the friendly international against Italy.

Portugal U21 coach Rui Jorge has also named the squad for the European Championships to be played in the Czech Republic later this month.

Portugal 3-0 Senegal

The Seleção kicked off their U20 World Cup campaign in New Zealand in perfect fashion with a commanding 3-0 victory over Senegal at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton. 

The fourth quickest goal in the tournament’s history was fired in by Gelson Martins after only 26 seconds.

A late flurry from super-sub Nuno Santos followed, who assisted André Silva and bagged a goal of his own, as Portugal served notice that they mean business "down under". 

Portugal’s Under-20 squad is hoping to get their World Cup off to a winning start when they face African nation Senegal in their first group stage match on Sunday.

Hélio Sousa, himself a winner at this tournament in 1989, will once again be at the helm. He has brought along many of the same players that lost to Germany in the final of the U19 European Championships last summer.  Sousa warns that the squad must maintain the same level of motivation that has gotten them this far.

“We need to demonstrate an enormous desire to win, to progress to the next round of competition. That is our responsibility. That is part of who we are. This winning attitude will help up persevere when the odds are against us. Although we did not win the final [at the U19 European Championships] we demonstrated in that game that we know how to fight for a victory,” he told Portuguese wire service Lusa this week.

PortuGoal previews Sunday’s Portugal-Senegal match.