The performance of Portugal’s U20 team in the New Zealand World Cup has got Seleção fans excited, and hopes are high that more success may be on the way at youth level in the U21 European Championship, which begins on 17 June.
Portugal U21 coach Rui Jorge yesterday announced the final squad that will travel to the Czech Republic. William Carvalho and Bernardo Silva, who are currently on duty for the senior side, will join the delegation after Saturday’s Euro 2016 qualification match against Armenia.
The Under-21 Seleção squad reached the tournament in style, winning all of their 10 matches in the qualification phase. The side is packed with players who are already first-choice starters at top-level clubs, raising expectations and making Portugal one of the tournament favourites.
In addition to the above-mentioned William and Bernardo, players such as João Mário and Raphael Guerreiro - to name just four - are expected to form the backbone of the senior Seleção side in the near future
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Rui Jorge is keen to dampen down the hype surrounding the side. “Are we favourites? I ask you to analyse the qualifying campaign of the other teams then think for a while. England had 9 wins and a draw in their 10 games. Sweden knocked out the U20 World Champions, France,” pointed out Jorge in an interview on the Portuguese Football Federation site.
For now Jorge is looking no further than making it through the group phase, which will mean qualification for the 2016 Olympics in Rio da Janeiro.
Portugal are in Group B along with England, Italy and Sweden. The Seleção play their first match on Thursday 18 June against England.
Portugal’s Euro 2015 U21 squad:
Goalkeepers: Bruno Varela (Benfica), Daniel Fernandes (VFL Osnabruck), José Sá (Marítimo)
Defenders: Frederico Venâncio (Vitória Setúbal), João Cancelo (Valencia), Paulo Oliveira (Sporting), Raphael Guerreiro (Lorient), Ricardo Esgaio (Académica), Tiago Ilori (Bordeaux), Tobias Figueiredo (Sporting)
Midfielders: Tozé (Estoril), Bernardo Silva (Monaco), João Mário (Sporting), Rafa (Braga), Rúben Neves (FC Porto), Sérgio Oliveira (Paços de Ferreira), William Carvalho (Sporting)
Forwards: Carlos Mané (Sporting), Gonçalo Paciência (FC Porto), Iuri Medeiros (Arouca), Ivan Cavaleiro (La Coruna), Ricardo Pereira (FC Porto), Ricardo Horta (Malaga)
by Tom Kundert
