Four games later, Portugal are eliminated from the European Under-21 Championship hosted by Romania and Georgia. This Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against England showed once again the feeble ambition of Rui Jorge’s team, which only in the second half showed the qualities to dream of a trophy they never won. Rui Jorge repeated the team that beat Belgium in the last game of the group stage and handed over the command of the game to England. A stronger, more experienced team that almost always drowned out the Portuguese national team. With the exception of Pedro Neto’s poison shot, the British team had the upper hand and it was not surprising that the goal was already close to the end of the first half. Anthony Gordon fired with no chance for Selton after a beautiful three-lion rebound collective move. The half-time appearances of Paulo Bernardo and, above all, striker Enrique Araujo (I don’t understand why he was not selected earlier) improved the national game, balanced the game and even had a noisy draw chance. Enrique Araujo topped the crossbar after a cross from Pedro Neto. End of the line for Portugal in the “quarters” of the race. The defeat, which also strips the national colors of next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, for the second time in a row. TO LEARN MORE
“WE WERE AFRAID”
“Of course, I am unhappy with the first half. We were afraid. Only when we conceded a goal did we loosen up a bit,” complained coach Rui Jorge: “We weren’t able to show the potential that we have.”
“EXTENSION”
“This second half was the best moment of our European Championship. One goal and extra time is the least we deserved. We are sad, but this is football,” striker Enrique Araujo said at the end.