He’s posted a few times in the Barcelona forum and I’m subscribed to the Portugal National Team thread. I’m well aware of his intentions.
Brought over from the Portugal forum... Argentina won the 1995 edition when the tournament was played within the borders of Qatar itself. So now what? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Also, if you are a Barcelona fan you should keep tabs on Francisco Trincao. By 2022 he will most likely eclipse Messi as Barcelona’s top player. The kid is a true gem. In 2022 I would like to see this lineup : ———————- Patricio—————— ————Quaresma——Dias———— ————————William—————- Semedo————————————-Guerreiro ————————-Neves——————— B.Silva—————Fernandes————-Trincao ——————Cr7———-Felix/LEÃO
When they qualify. Which they didn't in 2003. Only if Messi is no longer with the club. And even then I'm not sure he'll even be level with current Barca youth prospects Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig. Barca fans are weary of Portuguese youngsters given the recent experiences of Andre Gomes and Semedo.
I can assure you that as a semi professional scout and a youth coach I believe Trincao has more potential than Fati or Puig.
Not only weary of Portuguese players, but am very weary of players integrating successfully in the Barca system that didn't come through La Masia. Way more have failed than succeeded regardless how highly touted they were before joining Barca. For that reason, the potential of Puig is well above Trincao's IMO. But anyway, its not a competition. So many holes to plug in the current squad that there is plenty of room and opportunity for both to play and succeed.
So players have to fit the la masia system? Yet another reason why ronaldo is superior to Messi as he can play and adapt to any system and style. this is a quality I value, with the youths I coach I encourage adaptability and have had players switch and retrain in multiple positions. I was coaching a midfielder who started out as a goalkeeper a few years ago! When he joined me I saw his potential as a holding midfielder and last year he obtained a scholarship to play soccer in the United States with Michigan state. He may become a MLS player one day. I have tipped off some contacts from the Canadian soccer association to keep tabs on him, he also wishes to play for Trinidad and Tobago potentially as that is where his parents are from. I hope that Canada picks him.
As someone who claims to be a know-it-all on youth talent you sure spend a lot of time in an armchair fan's message board. And yet many players who have played with and against both rate Messi over Cristiano, including his former teammates Scholes and Rooney among others.
What does any of that have to do with my point that good players often struggle to adapt to Barca's style?
Gomes was a bust forsure, but from what I've seen and read, Semedo has been pretty solid. Don't get me wrong, I've probably only watched maybe a total of 8 or 9 matches in which he started, and the rest of what I'm basing it on is match reports. He seems to generally get a ranking of around 7. So again, nothing world class, but solid.
You wish you had credentials like me. Now that I am divorced I am free to pursue my dreams and am working on trying to become a full time professional scout or coach with a club in Portugal. I have many contacts who respect me.
So what if Portugal made the Nations League Final? It doesn't mean much especially going into EURO 2021 anyway and I wouldn't bet on Portugal winning it back to back. Portugal at best get to Final 4 and lose in the Semi Final. That is my honest prediction for Portugal. Now as far as who makes the Final realistically, it will be Belgium vs Germany
Euro 2020 favourites: Belgium, England, Portugal, France, Germany. Not sure about the Netherlands. https://www.goal.com/en/news/euro-2...favourites to,players within Les Bleus' squad. https://www.beinsports.com/en/football/news/five-teams-who-can-win-euro-2021/1447341 https://pitchinvasion.net/favourites-to-win-euro-2021/ We could watch the best EURO edition, similar to those in 1996, 2000.
The draw was quite kind to Holland though. There's a decent chance that they avoid those 5 top favorites and also the second-tier of favorites (Spain, Italy, Croatia) until the semis.
Last chance for Croatia with this entire generation. No more EURO for Modric, Rakitic, Lovren for sure. Few of them actually play Brozovic, Rebic. Italy might surprise, if they use catenaccio. Ntherlands has problems in the end, semi-finals, final. For sure, they often play great. Haven't seen the possible crossings in the knock-out stage. We also wait the rest of participants. I doubt that they can do much. There are complicated teams like Scotland, both Irish teams, maybe Bulgaria, Norway. IT seems that there are 10 teams in this EURO with interesting football. Others are mostly defensive.
I do not see the reason why Portugal's chances should be considered any higher than some of the other heavyweight national teams.
I think Portugal never had such a good and deep squad since 2006. And they know also how to use the pieces. It's a great squad but also a great team. Group F of EURO 2020 will be fun.