It's one thing to say Portugal choked because they didn't game plan well enough or they tired out, but how can you possibly say they weren't serious about winning? How can you possibly believe Portugal didn't dominate the game? You know why Portugal didn't score that game? Like I said earlier Sweden played not to lose. It's obvious when you pay attention to the game and the numbers. Numbers don't lie. 57% possession, almost 290 more completed passes, 22 shots compared to their 12. Sweden parked that bus and took the wheels off in order to not suffer a goal. They then tried their luck with Stoke ball.
Portugal didn't bother trying to score in the first 15 minutes despite opening up a disjointed Sweden. There were tons of holes in their defence and we decided to pass the ball around. No confidence, no player wanted to take the step forward like Bernardo did vs Germany, not even Bernardo. The time came and they choked. The only Portugal player who doesn't choke is Ronaldo he is the U23 only hope of overcoming their own mental barriers. Once you become a champion it's easier to win again. Look at Spain from youth to the outgoing crop they did nothing but win.
No Ruben Neves, no Guedes, no Mane, No Bruma, no Marcos Lopes No problem 2-0 at half time goals by Bruno Fernandes from a pk and Andre Silva Complete domination. Tomas is such a great cerebral D-mid, Bruno Fernandes and the attacking three are doing great. Only Francisco Ramos is below the quality of the rest of the squad, Lopes is on the bench due to a knock so hopefully he comes on in the second half to replace him. But damn, what a team. Toughest fixture in the group, missing 4/5 starters, and casually strolling to a victory.
Second half Israel were about as good as us but Horta got the last goal late on to make it 3-0. Portugal basically have already qualified as group leaders after 5 games due to all of them being wins (none conceded although Israel should of scored early in the second) and still having to play Liechtenstein home and away which should be another 6 points.
I actually like Francisco Ramos but it might be time to see how Francisco Geraldes does in his place: He's the same age as Francisco Ramos, only 8 days younger actually, and he's one of the most talented players of his generation. Yet for some reason, much like Iuri Medeiros, he's never called to the national team. I'm actually hoping he's loaned to some Primeira Liga team come January.
Guarda-redes: Bruno Varela (Valladolid) e Miguel Silva (Vitória de Guimarães) Defesas Edgar Ié (Villarreal), João Cancelo (Valência), Leandro Silva e Rafa Silva (Académica), Rúben Semedo e Tobias Figueiredo (Sporting) Médios: Bruno Fernandes (Udinese), Rúben Neves, Tomás Podstawski e Francisco Ramos (FC Porto) e Rony Lopes (Lille) Avançados: André Silva (FC Porto), Bruma (Real Sociedad), Carlos Mané e Gelson Martins (Sporting) Jota (Paços de Ferreira), Gonçalo Paciência (Académica), Gonçalo Guedes (Benfica), Hélder Costa (Mónaco) Iuri Medeiros (Moreirense) e Ricardo Hort (Málaga). What a ********ing team. Missing Renato Sanches as well. Liechenstein is going to get rekt son.
Rony Lopes has seemed to have his growth stall a bit after last season. Had a nice free kick recently though.
Team for the two qualification matches vs Israel (2 September) and Greece (6 September) for the U21 Euro 2017 in Poland. O Selecionador Nacional dos sub-21, Rui Jorge, convocou 23 jogadores para o duplo compromisso com Israel (2 de setembro) e Grécia (6 de Setembro), jogos a contar para a fase de qualificação para o Campeonato da Europa de Sub-21, que se vai realizar na Polónia, em 2017. Fernando Fonseca, Paulo Henrique, André Horta, Francisco Geraldes, João Carvalho e Simão Azevedo irão trabalhar pela primeira vez com a Seleção sub-21. Lista de convocados: Guarda-redes: André Moreira (Atlético Madrid), Bruno Varela (Vitória de Setúbal) e Joel Pereira (Manchester United). Defesas: Edgar Ié (Villarreal), Fernando Fonseca (FC Porto), Paulo Henrique (Paços de Ferreira), Rúben Semedo (Sporting), Simão Azevedo (SC Braga), Tobias Figueiredo (Nacional) e Yuri Ribeiro (Benfica). Médios: André Horta (Benfica), Bruno Fernandes (Sampdória), Francisco Geraldes (Moreirense), João Carvalho (Benfica), Rúben Neves (FC Porto) e Tomás Podstawski (FC Porto). Avançados: Carlos Mané (Sporting), Diogo Jota (Atlético Madrid), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Gonçalo Guedes (Benfica), Gonçalo Paciência (FC Porto), Iuri Medeiros (Sporting) e Ricardo Horta (SC Braga).
If we win against Israel we will have already qualified after this the seventh game after winning all six of the first six games. Rui Jorge espera garantir a qualificação da seleção sub-21 para a fase final do Euro-2017 já no próximo jogo, frente a Israel, em Paços de Ferreira, a 2 de setembro. O selecionador divulgou esta sexta-feira a lista de 23 convocados para o duplo embate com Israel e Grécia. «Temos seis vitórias em seis jogos, por isso se vencermos o jogo com Israel garantimos o apuramento e é isso queremos. É importante alcançar isso já», disse, concordando que será agradável manter uma campanha só com vitórias. A passagem de André Silva para a seleção principal - Fernando Santos divuklgou também os nomes chamados para jogos com Gibraltar e Suíça - foi, tal como com outros jogadores, encarada como normal. «É gratificante. Temos quatro jogadores na seleção principal que podiam estar aqui, mas isso é muito bom», garantiu. Portugal lidera o Grupo 4 de apuramento para o Europeu da Polónia com 18 pontos, mais seis que a segunda classificada Albânia (que tem mais dois jogos) e mais sete que Israel.
A Seleção Nacional sub-21 cumpriu, esta quarta-feira, no Estádio 1.º de Maio, em Braga, o seu penúltimo apronto antes da partida com Israel, agendada para 2 de setembro, pelas 17h15, no Estádio Capital do Móvel, em Paços de Ferreira.
Portugal o Israel o First loss of points after 6 straight wins but we are seven points ahead of Israel (second) and will qualify if we beat Greece at home on Tuesday 6th September, 17:15, just before Portugal vs Switzerland (19:45). Highlights in this game include Gelson's túnel and André Horta's pontapé de escorpião.
Rui Jorge announces the U21 team for the qualification games (we have qualified already) against Hungary (6th October) and Liechtenstein (11 October) on Thursday the 29th of September, just after Santos announces his side (I think). http://www.abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=632300
Where the hell is Gil Dias, he has seriously been one of the best player in the Liga this year. Can't understand the selections sometimes, they take B team players of established top league players, this hurts my head
Great selection regardless though, Bruma and Marcos Lopes are both back. Bruma has been amazing for galatasaray this season so far. With Rafa (being ostracized for not going to the Olympics) and Joao Cancelo at fullback, this team will challange for another trophy.
Para estas duas partida foram chamados 23 jogadores, entre os quais o defesa Domingos Duarte (Belenenses), o médio Pedro Empis (Sporting) e o avançado Daniel Podence (Moreirense) que foram convocados pela primeira vez por Rui Jorge. Eis a lista completa de convocados: Guarda-redes: André Moreira (Atlético Madrid), Bruno Varela (Vitória FC) e Miguel Silva (Vitória SC) Defesas: Domingos Duarte (Belenenses), Edgar Ié (Villarreal CF), Fernando Fonseca (FC Porto), Rebocho (Moreirense), Rúben Semedo (Sporting), Simão Azevedo (SC Braga) e Tobias Figueiredo (CD Nacional); Médios: André Horta (Benfica), Bruno Fernandes (Sampdória), Francisco Geraldes (Moreirense FC), João Carvalho (Benfica), João Teixeira (Wolverhampton), Rony Lopes (Lille Olympique), Pedro Empis (Sporting) e Rúben Neves (FC Porto); http://www.fpf.pt/pt/Notícias/Notícia/news/8575/contextid/176