Francisco Ramos, pictured left, is one of a number of players to make the step up to the U-21s
With the U-21’s impressive performance at the U-21 Euro now in the past, the team’s focus now shifts to qualification for the next edition of the tournament. With this shift is also a shift in personnel. Head coach Rui Jorge named a squad of 23 today for the team’s upcoming qualification match against Albania, to be played on September 8th.
A number of players who featured for the U-20s at this summer’s World Cup are included in this squad, including starting goalkeeper André Moreira, star midfielders Francisco Ramos and Marcos Lopes, and striker André Silva. Manchester United youth goalkeeper Joel Pereira and Braga B left-back Nurio Fortuna.
Here’s the full list:
Goalkeepers: André Moreira (União Madeira), Bruno Varela (Benfica), Joel Pereira (Manchester United)
Defenders: Edgar Ié (Villareal), Fábio Cardoso (Paços Ferreira), Rafa (Porto), Mauro Riquicho (Sporting), Nurio Fortuna (SC Braga), Rúben Vezo (Valencia), Tobias Figueiredo (Sporting)
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Udinese), Francisco Ramos (Porto), João Teixeira (Benfica), Rony Lopes (Monaco), Raphael Guzzo (Tondela), Rúben Neves (Porto)
Forwards: André Silva (Porto), Bruma (Real Sociedad), Carlos Mané (Sporting), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Gonçalo Paciência (Académica), Ricardo Horta (Malaga)
Yeah, after the great performance at the U-21 2014 Euro it’s time to start all over again.
Portugal’s U-21 team kept his manager Rui Jorge and is looking to do as great as it did during the qualification matches for the referred European competition.
The success behind Portugal’s youth team resides mainly on Rui Jorge and also in the great quality of young players that youth academies like Benfica’s are producing lately.
Cheers,
Mike