Finally the last call, for the U-21 Portuguese team that will play the rest of the UEFA U-21 Championship Qualifier. For now, Portugal has won all 5 of their games and scored 16 goals. This is an amazing team that has many players that had enough quality to go to Brazil, that won’t be the case but we will have the opportunity to watch them against Macedonia.
The call:
Goalkeepers: Daniel Fernandes (Osnabruck), José Sá (Marítimo) e Luís Ribeiro (Sporting);
Defenders: Rúben Vezo (Vitória FC), Luís Martins (Gil Vicente), Miguel Rodrigues (Nacional), Paulo Oliveira (Vitória SC), Raphael Guerreiro (Lorient) e Tiago Ilori (Granada);
Midfielders: André Gomes (Benfica), Tó Zé (FC Porto), Bernardo Silva (Benfica), João Mário (Vitória FC), Luís Gustavo (Rio Ave), Rúben Pinto (Benfica), Sérgio Oliveira (Paços de Ferreira) e Tiago Silva (Belenenses);
Forwards: Carlos Mané (Sporting), Cafú (Vitória SC), Gonçalo Paciência (FC Porto), Ivan Cavaleiro (Benfica), Rafa (SC Braga), Ricardo Pereira (FC Porto) e Ricardo Esgaio (Sporting).
This is the generation that lead me to make this thread, an enormous amount of talent and quality that I always had faith in. And I still believe that they will make a very strong Portugal A team, in the future, maybe in 2 or 4 years.
By now you already know Paulo Oliveira, Guimarães central defender who is a beast and could maybe be on a move this summer.
Tiago Ilori, who as I warned made a bad decision going to Liverpool, to a place where he did not get any minutes and then being loaned to Granada at the middle of the season. I still question if it wouldn’t had been smarter to stay at Sporting and progress with a ton of minutes.
André Gomes that have just played the Uefa Europa League final, even if he played poorly, it shows that he has talent and enough quality to play at the higher stage.
Tozé, after a 21 goals season he is ready to take the big step, step towards the first team. He will have to learned the trust of Porto’s new coach Lopetegui.
Bernardo Silva played 10 minutes in the classico against Porto, but more important than that, he made 7 goals and played very well in his first professional season.
João Mário who broke through after being loaned to Vitória de Setubal, Sporting B coach, Abel didn’t like his defensive effort. But in the main division it was more than enough and he actually is on the 30 man list to go to Brazil.
Carlos Mané about who I recently talked about, is one of those players that made a very good second part of the season. Even if he doesn’t start all games, he won his place over Carrillo and Wilson Eduardo and caught the eyes of some English clubs.
Ivan Cavaleiro, a season of ups and downs but he still managed to be in Paulo Bento’s list, I don’t think he deserves it all that much but he has talent and he shows it mainly with Benfica B. Ivan should play more next year, at Benfica or elsewhere.
Ricardo Pereira, I always thought that he wasn’t given the credit he deserved during this season. Ricardo who is a winger, played as left back and right back and got some critics over some mistakes, which are unfair due to obvious reasons. He finish the season with a bit more support from Porto fans, after some good games as… winger.
Three players to watch,
Miguel Rodrigues is the central defender that all seem to like, getting more love than Paulo Oliveira. I find them very equal in talent and potential and even in playing style. I hope they will have the opportunity to show what they can really do in big Portuguese clubs.
Rafa Silva, honestly I hope you don’t see him play against Macedonia, I would prefer him to go to the World Cup and he deserves it. He was Braga’s best player before hurting himself and be sidelined for some weeks. I think that if it wasn’t for his injury, he would go to Brazil without any doubts. He plays as winger or attacking midfielder, great speed, great technical skills, drives the ball very well and knows how to pass it, when to do it and who to. I don’t think Braga will be able to keep him for much longer, even if just arrived this season.
Could Gonçalo finally be the striker Portugal seeks? I don’t know it yet but after 19 games and 5 goals with Porto B, people are starting to believe in him. He has still a lot to prove and should stay one more year in the second league or be loaned. But he has that rare capacity to physically be a beast, he is tall and strong, and then Paciência is able to pull out the most incredible dribble. I like his finalizing skills, always cold blooded and shots well with both feet.
Next Games:
Macedonia – Portugal, 23/05/2014 at 17:00
The Portuguese Scout 