Portugal 2016 vs Portugal 2019 - who is the greater European champion?

Discussion in 'UEFA and Europe' started by Joe Martelo, Aug 11, 2020.

  1. Joe Martelo

    Joe Martelo Red Card

    CDC Montalegre
    Portugal
    Sep 30, 2019
    Hello Guys,

    unfortunately there were no euros this year and we will have to wait until 2021.

    the current European champions are Portugal
    2016 and Portugal 2019 (nations league winners).

    which team do you think is better and why?

    to be honest, in 2019 Portugal could count on Bruno fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and joao Felix. 3 very good youngish players. 2016 still had veterans such as Nani and Quaresma.

    2016 Portugal had to play: Iceland, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Poland, Wales , and France (home).

    2019 Portugal had to play Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and Netherlands
     
  2. Dage

    Dage Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 4, 2008
    Berlin
    Club:
    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Portugal is not European Champion 2019 because of the Nations League but because of the Euro 2016.
     
  3. Joe Martelo

    Joe Martelo Red Card

    CDC Montalegre
    Portugal
    Sep 30, 2019
    I don’t know, I think it means they are double European Champion? I think it’s like in boxing when they had different championship belts. But with Portugal carrying both titles they are considered undisputed European champion.
     
  4. Danko

    Danko Member+

    Barcelona
    Serbia
    Mar 15, 2018
    UEFA Nations League is not a serious title...

    Which team is better? Probably 2019 because they have Bruno and Bernardo.
     
  5. Dage

    Dage Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 4, 2008
    Berlin
    Club:
    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    They are European Champions until another team is crowned in a European Championship. The Nation League is not. The Portuguese Cup Winner isn't the Portuguese League Champion, right? And hell for sure isn't some bogey indoor/beach tourney winner Portuguese champion just because it's played after the regular championship.
     
  6. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    2016 Portugal: Nobody has ever navigated through an easier draw to a Final.

    2019 Portugal: Hold my ginjinha.
     
  7. Joe Martelo

    Joe Martelo Red Card

    CDC Montalegre
    Portugal
    Sep 30, 2019
    Both were difficult , Wales is a world class team and were very well coached . Poland was also good at the time. Don’t forget Croatia reached the final of the World Cup two years after, and we know who won that one.

    anyways I think nations league shouldn’t be downplayed. I have a poster in my bedroom of the nations league 2019 winners and I am proud of it.

    I am
    Looking forward to euro 2021 and nations league 2021.
     
  8. Joe Martelo

    Joe Martelo Red Card

    CDC Montalegre
    Portugal
    Sep 30, 2019
    Nations league is played in a league format though , so in some ways it may be more prestigious than winning an Euro.

    funny you mention beach soccer, we are champs of that as well

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Beach_Soccer_World_Cup


    anyways looking forward to next tournaments, I am interested to study the tactical
    Approach of various sides.
     
  9. Forest 4eva

    Forest 4eva New Member

    Nottingham Forest
    Argentina
    Aug 9, 2020
    It's no contest comparing the competitions, especially as the Nations League doubles up as a Euro's qualifying tool. However, comparing the two sides is a good-call. Portugal of 2016 were like so many predecessors to taste success within the same competition, uninspiring within the group-stage with 3 draws, only qualifying due to the extended format, in which it's harder to be eliminated than to qualify. However, while in the knockout stages they made some changes and become defensively astute (I don't believe they conceded within the knockout stage?). The only game within that tounament where they impressed me was the 2-0 win over Wales in the semi. They had an ageing team, to put it mildly, Quaresma, Nani, Alves, Carvalho, Fonte etc. Some remained for the Nations League, however a much needed injection of youth came in, they became much more fluent/easy on the eye. Ronaldo obviously remained (as he is like a fine-wine), Bernardo, Bruno Fernandes (future talisman, like he is in the embryonic stages of doing at United for the National side too), Dias, Guedes and Felix, aswell as the burgeoning talent within the Wolves squad. It's hard to know whether the 2019/current squad would've won the Euros in 2016, as a time-machine would be needed. However, seeing how the current side perform within the Euros next summer could be telling, especially as a lot of Euro Nations are in a process, like Portugal of gelling and looking to the future, which I believe will lead to a much better competition than the Euros in 2016.
     

Share This Page