11 June 2007, by Sean Gillen

European U21 Championship:
Portugal make stuttering start

Portugal 0–0 Belgium

Portugal’s European U21 Championship campaign got off to an uninspiring start as they were held to a goalless draw by Belgium in their opening match in Group A.

Jose Couceiro’s men produced a disappointing performance against their less experienced opponents, who may feel aggrieved not to have claimed all three points in Groningen.

Couceiro “We lost control at times but either team could have won.”

Couceiro opted for a flexible 4-3-3 system, with eight of the side having Champions League experience, as Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho lined up alongside Manuel Fernandes to form possibly the tournament’s strongest midfield.

Bright beginning

Portugal started positively, and Fernandes had a good chance after just three minutes when the ball broke to him on the edge of the area, but his snapshot whistled past the post.

With less than ten minutes played, a good piece of football saw Moutinho’s superb flick set Yannick Djalo off on a run down the right, with the Sporting man’s attempted centre deflected on target but was saved by Belgium goalkeeper Logan Bailly.

After a bright opening, Portugal’s spark soon began to fade, and the Belgians started to impose themselves on the game. Vanden Borre slid a well-timed pass through to Kevin Mirallas, but the striker pulled his finish well wide. Shortly afterwards, Mirallas volleyed over from the edge of the box.

Nani and Yannick switched wings twice before the break, but both men were afforded little time on the ball by their opponents, who showed fantastic determination in closing down Portugal’s creative players.

Shaky defence

As well as lacking in cohesion in other parts of the field, Portugal looked shaky in defence. Semedo, an injury doubt before the game, coped hopelessly with Mirallas, while goalkeeper Paulo Ribeiro looked hugely unconvincing when coming for crosses.

Belgium, who came into the game on an 11-match unbeaten run, went close twice before the interval. First Maartens cut in from the left and drew a save from Ribeiro, before Mirallas skipped away from Semedo and fired across goal following a similar run on the other side of the box.

The intensity of the game dropped slightly after the break, and the Portuguese defence enjoyed a more comfortable half as their opponents’ struggled to maintain the same level of threat to their attack.

Couceiro made changes, with Pacos de Ferreira defender Antunes replacing the injured Goncalves at left-back, and looking far more dangerous going forward than the Hearts man.

Portugal created their best chance of the match shortly after the hour mark. Fernandes released Djalo down the left and the Sporting man delivered a perfect cross for Almeida, who headed straight at Bailly. Belgium then had a similar opportunity when an excellent cross from Pocognoli was headed over by Fellaini.

Almeida aerial threat

Silvestre Varela replaced Djalo for Portugal, and the 22-year-old looked lively as Portugal began to enjoy some pressure in the closing stages, including success with numerous direct balls to Almeida, with the Werder Bremen man winning several challenges in the air late on.

Fernandes went close again with a rasping 25-metre shot, but the match ended and Couceiro’s men ultimately settled for a point, which sees them fall behind early group leaders and hosts Holland.

PortuGOAL Man of the Match: Manuel da Costa
The PSV stopper was the standout player in what was an average team performance, dealing far better than his defensive partner Semedo with the tricky Belgian frontline.

Portugal:
Ribeiro, da Costa, Semedo, Goncalves (Antunes), Oliveira, Veloso, Fernandes, Moutinho (Moreira), Nani, Djalo (Varela), Almeida
Yellow Cards: Almeida (17), Moutinho (36)

Belgium:
Bailly, de Roover, Pocognoli, Vermaelen, Lombaerts, Vertonghen, Vanden Borre (Overmeire, 90), Fellaini, Martens (Haroun, 87), Blondel (De Mul, 75), Mirallas
Yellow Cards: Vertonghen (19)