Sanches has been phenomenal for Bayern, I watched yesterday's game. Although he wasted some good opportunities on goal he was fantastic. There was a play where he took the ball on his own, picked up speed and flew past a few defenders for a breakaway but a beautiful save to stop him, Bayern's coach full of praise saying Sanches is a player who shakes off any opponent when he picks up speed, we do not really have that kind of a player in our team". Teammates like Hummels heaped praise on Sanches after the game yesterday talking about how incredibly powerful he is in midfield. With Neves pretty much looking like hes locked up the defensive mid role for Portugal, and Carvalho pushed up field more, you add Sanches to that midfield and oh my god, that is physically the most powerful midfield in the world, bar none!. And they are all so skilled, Carvalho a beautiful silky smooth passer, Neves with his passing and long range shots on goal, and Sanches skill and powerful shot, you have 3 incredibly strong midfielders physically, but also so skilled. I can't think of any midfield in world football including club teams that would have a midfield with that kind of mix of power and skill, I am so pumped for these next Nation's league games and friendlies. Ronaldo, Silva, Silva up front supported by that midfield.
Completely agree. I have not seen that Sanches sinceeeee... 2016? lol. It was beautiful to see.. the confidence has returned, and getting pats on the back from Robben during the game are certainly morale boosting. The midfield you mentioned is also the midfield i envisioned. Overall, with the combination of skills, we can not put together a better 3. ---Ronaldo----------A.Silva--------B.Silva --------------William---------Sanches ------------------------Neves Andre Silva also has 2 goals so far v Real Madrid today as i write this.. he is in some decent form as well.
I think it is pretty clear that if Ronaldo did not feel confident in this group of players coming up, and HIS chances of adding a WC trophy to his name, he would have retired after the WC. While his heart has and always be strong for the NT, the fact he skipped the last couple games to 'adapt to life in Italy' suggests this has now become personal, and he is continuing with the NT under his own terms, when it benefits him most, and if he believes the WC will be added to his name.. Either way, it is not exactly a knock on Ronaldo, but more so an encouraging sign that someone who degrades his team mates on so many occasions, likes what he sees enough to continue for another 4 years.
Marcos Paulo, o craque que está na dúvida entre Portugal e Brasil Um avô português permitiu que uma das jovens promessas do futebol brasileiro fosse chamado para representar a selecção portuguesa de sub-19. https://www.publico.pt/2018/10/17/d...sta-na-duvida-entre-portugal-e-brasil-1847800
I had the opportunity to watch the game Everton-Watford which featured not only André Gomes (who had one assist on the first goal and did very good overall), but it was also Domingos Quina's debut this season. In case you don't recall him, he was part of the squad who won the Under-19 Euro title last summer. He had a very solid performance and has earned himself some credit with Watford's coach. He's one minnow to keep an eye on.
Andre Gomes has been exceptional since lining up for Everton. I am not sure if this is a positive or negative thing in my eyes recalling how F.Santos used Gomes in 2016 and have the fear of that same experiment happening again.. when considering the elite explosive options we have in the midfield, as good as he has been playing (Gomes), it would be a downgrade.
- Jota has been great over the last 2 weeks (scored in both victories for the Wolves). - Rui Mario had a horrible game tonight against Liverpool. Looked like an amateur on the 1st goal and then made several other mistakes/poor plays - he was the worst player on the pitch in a do or die match. I would say that the LB is firmly not his on the NT. So, something to watch... - Guedes has been playing very poorly too for months but the problem is likely an injury. I don't know why he's even hesitating to get the surgery. I don't know how much he's helping himself or Valencia playing very clearly below his top level.
Rafael Leao is looking really good as a focal point striker for Lille in France. The Lille fans knicknaming him the Portuguese Mbappe which is tongue in cheek. Looks a really good striker and is part of the 99 generation. The u20s will be hard to beat at the World Cup, so much quality
Ruben Neves with a long-distance golaco winner to beat Liverpool today 2-1. Worth a watch: 1082382030443368448 is not a valid tweet id
It is great that we have a DM who is capable of firing in shots from distance with some level of accuracy and power. Based on this year, having gotten to watch Neves more being in the EPL and part of the NT set up, i find him over rated and lacks the defensive discipline required for a holding midfielder. His passes are sloppy time to time, and can be caught ball watching/being lazy. I personally believe a move to a bigger club should be considered to better his career.
Neves had a lull for about a month in which his impact wasn't as strong, but he has bounced back well after nuno started giving him a bit of rest. I think he can play an integral role for Portugal in the right lineup, plus he's still just 21. Not a lot of guys his age playing the same role as well as he does.
It’s very important to have a midfielder with a good shot from distance, players get pulled out of position when they know they have to close down a player who has s great shot. This creates more space around the box for your more creative players when the defence is set. I think that’s a bit unfair, he’s a young player getting use to the EPL and playing in a 2 man midfield with Moutunho who gets pulled out of position all game for no reason but to inflate his distance covered stats really puts a lot of pressure on him. We saw the same thing at the World Cup with William when Moutinho played. He hasn’t been at his best but he is still learning and has a massive ceiling
Rafael Leao scored again today. I think that's 3 goals in his last 3 league games. https://streamable.com/oqiro Rony Lopes also scored in a cup game midweek. His first start in months due to injury.
http://www.okgoals.com/match-highlights-1547913887---40 Another beast of a game by Neves and Jota. I especially love the 3rd goal - superb long pass by Neves which Jota chests on the run and finishes with his left foot. Neves could have had another 2-3 assists. (and his pass on the build up to the 4th goal is also fantastic). His long range passing is really special. And he nearly scored another long-range cracker at the beginning of the game. Diogo Jota is also impressing me. He moves very well off-the-ball and his finishing with either foot is pretty fearless (the winning goal today was the last shot of the game and he had an eternity to think about how to strike that but then effortlessly stuck the one-timer into the corner - lots of players would have crapped the bed in that situation and kicked it at the keeper or around the post). He's been having quite a season.
Portugal's Under 20's play a couple of friendlies against England and Germany, next week. Very strong squad named by Helio Sousa. BENFICA SAD – Florentino, Gedson Fernandes, João Filipe, Nuno Santos CHIEVO VERONA AC – Nuno Henrique EVERTON FC – João Virgínia PAÇOS FERREIRA – Elves Baldé FC PORTO SAD – Diogo Costa, Diogo Leite, Diogo Queirós LILLE OSCM – Rafael Leão MANCHESTER UNITED – Diogo Dalot MARÍTIMO MADEIRA SAD – Leandro Cardoso SC BRAGA SAD – David Carmo, Francisco Moura, Pedro Correia, Trincão SPORTING SAD – Luís Maximiano, Miguel Luís, Thierry Correia VITÓRIA SC SAD – Romain Correia WATFORD FC – Domingos Quina WEST HAM UNITED FC – Mesaque Dju WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS FC – Rúben Vinagre If we bring this team to the Under 20 World Cup, we are the favorites to win it all, for sure. Diogo Costa Diogo Dalot, Diogo Queiros, Diogo Leite, Ruben Vinagre Florentino Luis, Gedson Fernandes, Domingos Quina Joao Filipe, Trincao, Rafael Leao.
Que puta de equipa. The only issue is that the World Cup starts in May so some of those players might not be released by their respective clubs. But ya not a single team would be stronger than us if we brought these boys out.
I think by this quad announcement the FPF is serious about winning the World Cup whcihbis awesome IMO
Hélio Sousa, the coach is going to manage Bahrain after the WC, I think Bahrain have done their homework, be interesting to see how he does, do not know anything about football in Bahrain so do not know what would be a achievement for Bahrian besides a WC presence or Asian title, which was won by Qatar recently in Abu Dhabi (UAE) for the first time ever in the final agaisnt Japan by 3-1.
They have got themselves an absolute beauty in Helio. It’s a massive loss for the FPF, hopefully he can manage Portugal one day
Good wins this morning by the u17s 2-0 win verse Scotland in Scotland and the u19s beat Cyprus 3-0 in Portugal with the Uber talented Braga product who is now at Lazio Pedro Neto scoring a Hat trick The other games in both groups produced a winner so no early qualification possible. Both sides will play first round losers Turkey(17s) and Poland(19s) in 3 days time
did not want to start a new thread but would like to congratulate our young u17 ladies on their qualification to the euros https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=145&v=Q_bemfpduM0
Surprised there hasn't been more talk about Joao Felix. Is he the gem of the next generation of Portuguese players?