UEFA EURO U17 2022 semi-final preview: France – Portugal | Under-17
France and Portugal will face each other this Sunday in the first semi-final of the UEFA EURO U-17 2022, at the Netanya Stadium, with UEFA.com checking the journeys of the two teams to this stage of the competition.
France
Best performance in the Under-17s: winner (2004, 2015)
Group stage: Second of Group B (W6-1 – Poland, W4-0 – Bulgaria, L3-1 – Netherlands)
Quarter Finals: W4-3 on penalties against Germany (1-1)
Labels: Mathys Tel (3), Désiré Doué, Zoumana Diallo (2), Naim Byar, Axel Gueguin, Ayman Aiki, Warren Zaire Emery, Tom Saettel (1)
How did you get here? José Alcocer’s team started their campaign with ten goals in their first two games. A team with several changes also scored first against the holders in the group match, before being beaten by the Dutch in the closing stages. The following failed-time episodes starred in a dramatic turnaround forward in front of the semi-finals.
Key key: Mathys Tel
The Rennes forward played for his club in the UEFA Europa Conference League and Ligue 1, adding goals and maturity. The captain of the French national team scored the fifth and definitive penalty against Germany with the greatest of calm.
U17 EURO 2022 top scorers
Portugal
Best performance in the Under-17s: winner (2003, 2016)
Group stage: second in Group D (W5-1 – Scotland, W4-2 – Sweden, L3-1 – Denmark)
Quarter Finals: W2-1 against Spain
Labels: João Veloso, Afonso Moreira (3), Rodrigo Ribeiro, Ivan Lima, José Rodrigues (2)
How did you get here? Although coach José Lima failed on the first matchday, his team was sublime in the rout against Scotland in the opening game, followed by four more goals against Sweden. Leader of Group D before the third and final round, Portugal did not miss Ivan Lima’s early goal and saw a determined Denmark turn around the marker, coming very close to being eliminated from the competition due to goal difference. José Rodrigues scored, from a penalty, the decisive goal in the victory by 1 over Spain, which 2 took the presence in these semi-finals.
Key player: João Veloso
Benfica’s midfielder has a source of intelligence and a threat such as goalkeepers-fields and midfielders. His ability to pass and find spaces in attack have proved to be precious qualities for Portugal.
Likely teams
France: olmeta; Kumbedi, Sarr, Bitshiabu, Belocian; Atangana, Zaire Emery; Byar, Doue, Saettel; Telephone (c)
Portugal: Diogo Fernandes; Martim Fernandes, João Muniz, Diogo Monteiro (c), Leonardo Barroso; João Veloso, Djaló, Dário Essugo; Afonso Moreira, José Rodrigues, Ivan Lima
Where to watch the games: TV/streams
declarations
José Alcocer, France coach: They have a solid game plan. It’s a semi-final and anything is possible. It can be tense, it can be downright crazy. This EURO is a great success. The favorites are still an ‘outsider’ Let’s continue a little more still in the race..”
José Lima, Portugal coach: “Now all the teams aim to be European champions. Our main objective now – for now – is the game against France, knowing very well that France is a difficult team, as was Spain. We will do our best to win and be in the final.”