Calm and with the glow in economy mode for the 2025 Euro Cup, the under-21 team ended the qualifying phase with another triumph. On Tuesday afternoon, in Andorra, Rui Jorge‘s men dominated, winning 1-2, but were unable to escape some mishaps.
After the hard-fought triumph in the Faroe Islands – which sealed qualification for next summer’s Euros – Rui Jorge revolutionized the «eleven», making 11 changes.
Remember, here, how this match unfolded.
In the third minute, Martim Neto was unable to capitalize on an offer from the home team. After the defenders allowed the ball to roll into the area, the Rio Ave midfielder – on loan from Benfica – lost time to shoot.
Until they found the route to goal, the «Quinas» entrusted Carlos Forbs with the task of wearing down and frustrating Andorra’s defensive line, down the left aisle.
However, 0-1 came after a rare attack from the right. In a play started by Rodrigo Gomes, the full-back combined with João Marques, who, in turn, found Henrique Araújo deep in the middle. Benefiting from a faulty cut by two defenders, the Arouca striker – on loan from Benfica – opened the scoring.
It was 17 minutes in when the under-21 captain scored the tenth goal for this team, the third in this qualifying phase.
Until half-time, Andorra adjusted the pressure, betting on Aron Rodrigo’s technicality to aim for a draw. Thus, the 20-year-old striker – linked to Huesca, in Spain – retreated to midfield, “stealing” possession and forcing fouls from Rodrigo Gomes.
In any case, on rare occasions the intervention of João Carvalho, Sp’s guardian, was required. Braga B.
Decisive goal against the flow
Before the match resumed, Rui Jorge bet on Rafael Rodrigues, to the detriment of Rodrigo Gomes.
Four minutes later in the second half, Sola benefited from the home team’s best opportunity. After Rafael Rodrigues (very) misjudged the delay for João Carvalho, the Andorra striker only managed to get the ball by knocking paint off the post.
Now, to halt the opponent’s ascendancy, the national coach launched Fábio Silva, Quenda and Paulo Bernardo, to the detriment of Henrique Araújo, Vasco Sousa and Pedro Santos.
Even so, the match continued to decline in pace and quality, with the main figures, such as Carlos Forbs, “blacking out”.
At the other end, Rosas and Acosta led Andorra’s final counterattacks, sowing panic among the Portuguese defenders.
However, at 85m, in the opposite direction, the National Team ruled the fight, through Fábio Silva. The striker benefited from Quenda’s intelligence to score his eighth goal in this qualifying phase.
In response, Rosas scored the much-desired goal, Andorra’s fourth in the competition.
Until the end, Portugal limited itself to retaining possession in midfield. Thus, Rui Jorge’s men scored 27 points in ten games, reflecting their nine wins and one defeat.
In second place in Group G – a position that will at least give access to the play-offs – was Croatia, with 22 points, five more than Greece. The Croatians triumphed over the Greeks, 3-2.
As for the under-21 National Team, it remains to prepare for the 2025 European Championship – which coincides with the Club World Cup – in the hope of finally “avenging” the finals lost in 1994, 2015 and 2021.
For the tournament, which will take place in Slovakia, Spain, Italy, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, Romania, Slovenia, Poland and Denmark have also guaranteed direct qualification.
