Portugal

Team Overview

A strong soccer nation, the Portugese national team is governed by the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol. Portugal was the runner-up to Greece at the 2004 Euro Cup, but follows a great legacy of success in the golden 60s when they were led by Eusebio to a semi final in the FIFA World Cup in 1966. The 90 generation, with Figo, Rui Costa and the U-20 titles and the recent years with the hope on Cristiano Ronaldo and mates.

Road to Euro 2008

Portugal are in Group A which they share with Polandf, Serbia, Finland and Belgium. With some matches yet to play, Portugal have plenty of chances to make their fourth Euro in a row.

History

The Portugal Football Team played their first match in 1921 against Spain in Madrid. Since then, Portugal qualified for 4 World Cups (1966, 1986, 2002 and 2006). Their best rank in Fifa World Cups was 3rd place in 1966, led by the legendary Eusebio. They also played the finals in four Euro (1984, 1996, 2000 e 2004).

In 1989 and 1991, the generation known as ‘Gold Generation’ won back-to-back the U-20 Fifa World Cup title. Luis Figo and Rui Costa led the boys that changed the history of Portuguese football as they put the country again in a featured place in international football.

After that, Portugal became one of the most important National Teams in the game. They finished third in Euro 2000. Four years later, with Brazilian coach Luis Felipe Scolari, the ‘Seleccao dos Quinas’ got the second place.

Scolari was also the coach for last World Cup semi final when Portugal was beaten by France and lost the third place game to host Germany.

Qualified for the next Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, Portugal is one of the favourites to the title again.

World Cup 2002

Goalkeepers Nelson Pereira (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Pereira (Boavista Porto), Vitor Baia (Porto).

Defenders Abel Xavier (Liverpool, England), Roberto Severo "Beto" (Sporting Lisbon), Marco Caneira (Benfica), Fernando Couto (Lazio, Italy), Nuno Frechaut (Boavista), Jorge Andrade (Porto), Jorge Costa (Porto), Rui Jorge Oliveira (Sporting Lisbon)

Midfielders Nuno Rocha "Capucho" (Porto), Luis Figo (Real Madrid, Spaain), Paulo Bento (Sporting Lisbon), Paulo Sousa (Espanyol, Spain), Pedro Barbosa (Sporting Lisbon), Armando Teixeira "Petit" (Boavista), Rui Costa (AC Milan, Italy), Sergio Conceicao (Inter Milan, Italy), Hugo Viana (Sporting Lisbon)

Forwards Joao Pinto (Sporting Lisbon), Nuno Ribeiro "Gomes" (Fiorentina, Italy), Pedro Resendes "Pauleta" (Bordeaux, France

Stars of the Current Squad

Pepe (Real Madrid)

Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)

Maniche (Atlético de Madrid): Maniche turned 30 years old last November and just signed Inter Milan on loan from Atletico de Madri. He probably is not the most talented player from Portugal, but he is a pretty regular one, with always a lot of spirit in the field. He was one of the best players in Portugal’s campaign last World Cup when he scored important goals, including the only goal against Netherlands in the round of 16.

Nani (Manchester United)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United): Cristiano Ronaldo is the guy who charges the hopes of winning the Euro 2008 for Portugal. With his awesome speed and powerful kick, with a great skill, Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, making a great forward line in Manchester United with Wayne Rooney. Ronaldo went to the Old Trafford from the Sporting Lisbon after the superstar David Beckham transferred to Real Madrid. With a huge responsibility, the kid showed a great game for the fans, which don’t miss Becks anymore. Now, the “kid” grew up and is one of the most respectable players around the Earth. In 2007, he was chosen third best player in the world by Fifa and second best by France Football.

Funny facts about Cristiano Ronaldo

• His name was a tribute from his father to Ronald Reagan, former president of the United States of America
• The soundtrack for his amazing game is big boo. He is booed in every match, except the home games.
• He is obsessed for cars and jewelry.

Quaresma: Ricardo Quaresma had a quick and tough start in his career. He started at Sporting Lisbon. After a two great seasons when he was the only star of the team, he moved to Barcelona. His period in Nou Camp was not so great and after a frustrating year he moved back to Portugal, where he played for Sporting`s rival Porto, until now. At home, he finally recovered his best form and natural dribbling ability. However, he was left out from Portugal squad in Germany at the FIFA World Cup 2006. Although he was left out of the 23 players on the Portuguese squad in 2006, his much improved form last season put Quaresma back to the National Team. He scored his first international goal against Belgium for a UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifier.

Deco (Barcelona-ESP): Brazilian born Anderson Souza, popular known as Deco, is one of the most important midfielders playing in Europe in the last years. He led both Porto and Barcelona to win the UEFA Champions League. After a large discussion in Portugal, he joined the National Team in 2003, after seven years of residence in Portugal. In the first game, against his home country Brazil, he scored the winning goal for 2 x 1. After that, Deco became the leader with the ball in the field.

Deco actually is not Portuguese. One of the best players of this team born in São Paulo, Brazil, started his career in Corinthians and came still too young to Europe to become the face of a team who always hosts very well naturalized people – now there are four other players in the squad who are also naturalized Brazilians: Pepe and Bruno Alves, Bosingwa and Makukula. Deco was the major responsible for the unforgettable Porto’s title in 2004 UEFA Champions League, which gave him the opportunity to be transferred to Barcelona, where he won another Champions League in 2006. The number 20 is the man that provides the balls for the forwards of his team with a uncanny precision, a job that is made by few players around the world. Deco is now injured, but he must play Euro 2008 and provide his fans more of his show in the soccer field.

Simão (Atlético de Madrid)

Team Legends

Eusébio was the most fantastic player in Portugal’s history. The number 13 of the World Cup of 1966 came from Mozambique and was the best player of Benfica in the 60’s. Such skills, power and speed took him to the World Cup of 1966, in England, when he became the main scorer of the competition, scoring 9 goals and carrying the Portuguese team to the third place. Many of fans of football say Eusébio was the best European soccer player ever.

Luís Figo is the most famous Portuguese soccer player in the world and the only one of his country to win the FIFA Player of the Year in 2001. The midfielder played for Sporting Lisbon before going to Barcelona and becoming an icon for the Spanish club. After that, Figo transferred to Real Madrid, the biggest rival of Catalans, in a negotiation that left the fans of Barça very upset. But Figo had a great success on the white team too, propelling them to win the UEFA Champions League trophy. On the Portugal national football team, Figo was a leader and the captain. The number 7 fought with Scolari when the Brazilian coach arrived, and even with his teammate Deco because of his Brazilian heritage. But even with all these fights, Figo will be remembered forever as the captain of “Selecção”.

Rui Costa was the main commander of Portugal’s midfield in 90’s until the UEFA Euro 2004, when Portugal lost the tournament for Greece. But Rui Costa will be always the number 10 of that squad. When a kid, Rui Costa was observed by Eusébio in the amateur categories of Benfica and, with such a good teacher, became a great midfielder with his transfer for the Italian club Fiorentina. There, he made a great pair with Gabriel Batistuta, one of the best strikers in the world. When Fiorentina went bankrupt, the Portuguese transferred to Milan, where he won a UEFA Champions League. But the moment that exemplified Rui Costa’s greatness was in a friendly game between Benfica and Fiorentina, in the Estádio da Luz. Rui Costa scored for Fiorentina, but he didn’t celebrate. Instead, the Portuguese cried and received applauses from the fans of Benfica.

Vítor Baíais the best goalkeeper to ever play for Portugal. If he is not, at least is the player in that position that the fans loved. Baía played 80 games for his country and provided them with an unforgettable moment in 2000, when he made a great save in a penalty kick from Turkey in the quarterfinals in the UEFA Euro cup of that year. Portugal took fourth place. Vítor Baia started in Porto – today he is the manager of the team – and went to an excellent Barcelona squad in the early 90’s, where he played with some other legends of football, including Ronaldo and Figo. Two years later, he returned to Porto and won the UEFA Champions League in 2004 with his first soccer team.

Pauleta is the top scorer of the Portugal team, scoring even more than the legend Eusébio, who made 41 goals. With 47 in 88 games, the “Açores Twister” is a truly center forward. Pauleta was top scorer in Spanish and French championships, even defending teams that didn’t have other good players, like Valencia and Paris Saint Germain. The immortal number 9 of “Selecção” doesn’t play anymore for his country, but already wrote his name in the history of Portugal: this is the guy who scored two goals in his debut – 7-0 against Azerbaijan – and never stopped beating the goalkeepers with his absolute precision and instinct.

Most International Matches Played

Most Appearances

Most Goals

Player Recognition & Awards

• Luis Figo – Fifa Player of the Year – 2001
• Eusébio – Ballon d’Or (France Football) - 1965

Team Honours

• Finals in UEFA Euro 2004
• Third place in FIFA World Cup 1966
• Fourth place in FIFA World Cup 2006
• Semifinals in UEFA Euro 1984 and 2000

Youngsters

• U20 FIFA World Champions 1989
• U20 FIFA World Champions 1991

Management

Gilberto Madaíl – President of the Portuguese Football Federation (Federação Portuguesa de Futebol)

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari

Felipão as he is known in Brazil, was Fifa World Cup Champions in 2002 as a head coach for the Brazilian National Team. He joined Portugal in 2003 and since then he put Portugal in the Euro last final, in 2004, and at the last World Cup's semifinal in Germany 2006. He has been frequently connected to rumors of leading both England and Brazil.

Brazilian coach in the 2002 World Cup, when Brazil got his 5th title, Scolari is considered a tough guy. His methods of coaching are unique. In Portugal, he led the team into a historic final in Euro 2004 and also led the National Team into the semifinals against France in Germany 2006. Recently Scolari got himself involved in a fight on the field when he punched a player from Servia.

Uniforms

Important Links

• http://www.fpf.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_FUTEBOL (Official team site)
• http://www.lpfp.pt/

References

• http://www.fpf.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_FUTEBOL