UEFA Futsal EURO team profile: Portugal
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Article summary
Portugal have been close to a first major title ever since a young Ricardinho inspired the UEFA Futsal EURO 2007 hosts to the semi-finals and they are contenders again in Belgrade.
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Portugal have been leading contenders for the European title ever since reaching the semi-finals as hosts in 2007; however, their runners-up finish in 2010 after an exciting 4-2 loss to Spain in Debrecen remains their best achievement.
That same year long-time coach Orlando Duarte was replaced by assistant Jorge Braz, who has subsequently kept Portugal at the top table with more than a little help from the hugely talented Ricardinho (who was injured for the 2010 final run). Though Portugal have suffered defeats over the last year at the hands of Kazakhstan, Brazil and the Netherlands, the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup quarter-finalists and UEFA Futsal EURO 2014 semi-finalists are the most likely nation to join past winners Spain, Russia and Italy on the continental roll of honour.
- Schedule
4 February: v Slovenia, 18.30 (head to head P6 W5 D0 L1 F18 A6)
6 February: v Serbia, 21.00 (head to head P6 W4 D0 L2 F19 A17)
- Key facts
Best performance: runners-up (2010)
Main round: Georgia 7-0, Kazakhstan 1-3, Romania 4-1 (Group 7 winners)
Players to watch: Cardinal, Pedro Cary, Ricardinho
- Three questions: Jorge Braz, coach
What do you think about your group?
We have two very difficult opponents – we know it is always tough to play against the hosts. Serbia play with a lot of passion, they have some individuals who are top European players, and they are also very creative. Slovenia are a similar team, also with a lot of creativity.
What are your aims for the tournament?
Our main goal is to progress from the group stage to the quarter-finals, then anything is possible. Given we were semi-finalists at the last EURO, maybe we can go a step further in Belgrade. And why not to the final? We have the quality for that, but there are many details that have to be in place throughout the tournament for us to make the final.
How important is Ricardinho for your team?
He is the best futsal player in the world and for us he is even more important as a true leader of this Portugal team. So his presence in the team is huge, he inspires other players and he also has other human qualities away from the pitch.
