Courtesy: UEFA.com

Note: due to the fact that this report has been written before the end of the past season, some indications will result as wrong

Team Profile: Portugal

Portuguese futsal dates back to the late 1980s, with the national league – a cup competition for the first two campaigns – kicking off in the 1990/91 season. The national team made their bow in February 1987 in a FIFA tournament in La Coruna, losing to Spain in their opener but defeating the United States among their four games. However, it was not until 1999 that they finally made a major finals, the UEFA European Futsal Championship, where they drew with Belgium and Italy but lost to eventual champions Russia.

Their finest hour, under new coach Orlando Duarte, came a year later in the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Guatemala, where they reached the semi-finals, losing 8-0 to Brazil but beating Russia 4-2 for bronze. Duarte has remained in charge since, leading them to the 2004 and 2008 World Cup second group stage and the 2007 European semi-finals as hosts in Porto.

How they qualified
Portugal had a rude awakening in their opening Group 6 game in Viana Castelo, needing a last-minute Joel Queirós goal to hold Azerbaijan 3-3. The next day they trailed Finland at the break before Joel Queirós's penalty and Leitão's winner with four minutes left made it 2-1. It was more comfortable in the last match, though, as Poland were beaten 8-1 to ensure first place on goal difference, Joel Queirós taking his qualifying tally to five.

Key players
The strength starts at the back where Sporting Clube de Portugal goalkeeper João Benedito ensures plenty of quality and experience. SL Benfica have a strong presence in the team with Arnaldo, Gonçalo Alves, Pedro Costa and the revelation of the 2007 finals, Ricardinho. The Spanish league provides more depth with CD Burela FS striker Israel and MRA Navarra's Joel Queirós.

Tournament record
2007: Fourth place (hosts)
2005: Group stage
2003: Group stage
2001: Did not qualify
1999: Group stage
1996: Did not qualify



Coach Profile: Orlando Duarte

Date of birth: 5 April 1957

Playing career: -

Coaching career: Atlético Clube de Portugal, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Portugal


A Portuguese Football Federation coach since 1994 and responsible for the national squad since 2000, 52-year-old Orlando Duarte is widely regarded as the man behind their rise to European futsal's élite. Duarte's club coaching career dates back to the 1987/88 season when he joined Lisbon's Atlético Clube de Portugal, winning two regional titles. Sporting Clube de Portugal came knocking on his door in 1991 and Duarte went on to win five Portuguese championships in nine seasons, with his growing reputation also earning him a role as a FIFA instructor.

In 2000 he took over the national team and in his competitive bow in the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Guatemala led Portugal to their first semi-final, eventually beating European champions Russia 4-2 for third place. Although missing out on the next year's UEFA European Futsal Championship finals, they made it in 2003, drawing with Spain, losing to Ukraine and beating Belgium. Pipped to the last four in the following year's World Cup and the 2005 European finals, they hosted the continental event in 2007 and only fell in the semis on penalties against Spain. Duarte also led them to the 2004 and 2008 World Cups.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com