The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future. In sports, "Esperança" comes before "Senior".
Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Portuguese under-21 team was formed. Until 1994, the team had a rather poor record – failing to qualify for each of the first eight UEFA under-21 Championships. Since 1994, the team has improved its record greatly, qualifying for five of the next seven tournaments, including the 2006 finals.
Having qualified for the 2006 tournament finals, UEFA announced that Portugal would host the finals in May and June. From 2007 onwards, host nations will be announced before the qualification stage and will not need to qualify.
Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two year competition, technically it is an under-23 competition. For this reason, Portugal's record in the preceding under-23 competitions is also shown.
[edit] UEFA under-23 Championship Record
- 1972: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 2 in qualification 'group'.
- 1974: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 2 in qualification 'group'.
- 1976: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification 'group'.
[edit] UEFA under-21 Championship Record
- 1978: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
- 1980: Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 4 in qualification group.
- 1982: Did not enter.
- 1984: Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 4 in qualification group.
- 1986: Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 4 in qualification group.
- 1988: Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 4 in qualification group.
- 1990: Did not qualify. Finished 3rd of 4 in qualification group.
- 1992: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 4 in qualification group.
- 1994: Runners-up.
- 1996: Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1998: Did not qualify. Finished 3rd of 5 in qualification group.
- 2000: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 5 in qualification group.
- 2002: Finished 3rd of 4 in finals group.
- 2004: Third place.
- 2006: Finished 4th of 4 in finals group. Hosts.
- 2007: Losing in fifth place match (Olympic playoff), therefore missing the 2008 Olympics.
- 2009: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 5 in qualification group.
[edit] Current Squad
| No. | Pos. | Player | DoB (Age) | Caps | Goals | Club | | GK | Pedro Trigueira | January 88, 1988 (1988-01-88) (age 21) | 0 | 0 |  Rio Ave | | GK | Hugo Ventura (on loan from Porto) | January 14, 1988 (1988-01-14) (age 21) | 11 | 0 | Olhanense | | DF | Ruben Lima (on loan from Benfica) | October 3, 1989 (1989-10-03) (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Vitória de Guimarães | | DF | Fábio Faria | April 24, 1989 (1989-04-24) (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Rio Ave | | DF | Daniel Carriço | August 4, 1989 (1989-08-04) (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Sporting Lisboa | | DF | Vítor | June 30, 1989 (1989-06-30) (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Benfica | | MF | Fábio Coentrão | March 11, 1988 (1988-03-11) (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Benfica | | MF | Bruno Pereirinha | March 2, 1988 (1988-03-02) (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Sporting Lisboa | | MF | Tengarrinha (on loan from Porto) | February 17, 1989 (1989-02-17) (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Olhanense | | MF | Adrien Silva | March 15, 1989 (1989-03-15) (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Sporting Lisboa | | MF | André Castro (on loan from Porto) | April 2, 1988 (1988-04-02) (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Olhanense | | MF | João Aurélio | August 17, 1988 (1988-08-17) (age 21) | 0 | 0 | C.D. Nacional | | FW | Ukra (on loan from Porto) | March 16, 1988 (1988-03-16) (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Olhanense | | FW | Rabiola (on loan from Porto) | July 25, 1989 (1989-07-25) (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Olhanense | | FW | Rui Pedro (on loan from Porto) | July 2, 1988 (1988-07-02) (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Estrela Amadora | | FW | Candeias (on loan from Porto) | February 25, 1988 (1988-02-25) (age 21) | 7 | 0 |  Recreativo de Huelva | | FW | Yazalde | September 21, 1988 (1988-09-21) (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Sporting Braga | | FW | Fredy | March 27, 1990 (1990-03-27) (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Belenenses | |
[edit] Notable Players
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources/External links
| National sports teams of Portugal | | A1 GP · Baseball · Basketball ( M, W) · Beach handball · Beach soccer · Cricket · Field hockey ( M, W) · Football association (Soccer) ( M, W, Olympic, M-21, M-20, M-19, M-18, M-17, M-16) · Futsal · Handball ( M, W) · Ice hockey · Korfball · Roller hockey (quad) ( M, W) · Rugby league · Rugby union ( M, W, M7's) · Tennis ( M, W) · Volleyball ( M, W) · Water polo · Olympic Games | |
