17 June 2007, by Sean Gillen

U21 European Championships: Impressive Portugal leave it too late

Portugal 4-0 Israel

Portugal crashed out of the European U21 Championships in Holland on Saturday, despite a convincing 4-0 win over Israel in their final group match.

Two poor performances earlier on in the tournament cost Jose Couceiro’s men dear as their win was not enough to prevent Belgium joining hosts Holland in the semi-finals, after the two teams played out a 2-2 draw in the group’s other final-day match.

Manuel Fernandes: “We should have played like this from the start.”

Couceiro was able to call on Bolton Wanderers forward Ricardo Vaz Te for the first time in the competition, while right-back Joao Pereira did enough against Belgium to secure a place in defence.

Portugal looked the hungrier side from the opening minute, but suffered a scare early on when Idan Srur’s in-swinging free-kick found its way through a crowded area and forced Paulo Ribeiro into a save.

Slick combination

Shortly before the twenty-minute mark, Portugal created their first major opportunity, following some excellent football. Nani and Joao Moutinho combined brilliantly on the left for Moutinho to chip the ball into the centre only for Vaz Te to head well over.

Manuel da Costa went close with a long-range free-kick, before a much-improved Nani showed a glimpse of his exceptional talent by connecting with a superb overhead kick volley, which flew inches over the crossbar.

The pressure was building, and Portugal finally took the lead on 37 minutes through Manuel Fernandes. The Benfica man played a one-two with Nani before receiving the ball twenty metres from goal and crashing a ferocious shot in off the underside of the bar.

Portugal’s lead was doubled on the stroke of half time, with Vaz Te showing what the team have been missing in his absence. Pereira’s superb delivery from the left found the former Farense man unmarked six metres out, and Vaz Te buried his diving header.

Veloso strikes again

The travelling Portuguese fans did not have long to wait long after the re-start for another goal, as Miguel Veloso score his second of the tournament. The Sporting midfielder’s set pieces have been a feature of Portugal’s play in the competition, and his curling left-foot cross beat everyone and bounced into the far corner on 49 minutes.

It was then time for Nani to take centre stage. The new Manchester United signing has received criticism in some quarters for his performances in Portugal’s previous two games, but the 20-year-old put the seal on a good personal performance with a thunderous 20-metre drive.

There were chances for Portugal to increase their lead further, with da Costa nodding over from a corner and Vaz Te’s header striking the post, with the team registering 29 attempts at goal during the match.

It would prove to be in vain, however, as Belgium’s equaliser twenty minutes from time against Holland saw Couceiro’s men exit the tournament early for the second year in succession.

PortuGOAL man of the match: Nani
Manchester United fans watching Nani’s performance had their appetites well and truly whetted as the winger’s array of sparkling skills ran Israel’s defence ragged.

Portugal:
Ribeiro, Periera, Antunes, Semedo, da Costa, Veloso, Fernandes, Moutinho (Machado, 60), Nani (Varela, 70), Vaz Te, Almeida (Moreira, 67)
Yellow Cards: Nani (13), Almeida (30), Fernandes (53), da Costa (88), Varela (90)

Israel:
Al Madon, Shpongin, Danin, Keinan, Jan, Duani, Srur (Bondarv, 56), Taga, Rafaelov (Peretz, 46), Yitzaki, Sahar (Damari, 80)
Yellow Cards: Bondarv (69), Keinan (89)

Goals:
[1-0] Fernandes, 37
[2-0] Vaz Te, 45
[3-0] Veloso, 49
[4-0] Nani, 52