Sports Mole previews Friday’s European Under-17s Championship clash between Portugal Under-17s and England Under-17s, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Portugal Under-17s and England Under-17s will both look to begin the European Under-17 Championship with consecutive wins when they face off in Friday’s clash at the Ammochostos Stadium in Larnaca.
England cruised to a comfortable win in their opener against France, while Portugal fought back to beat Spain on matchday one.
Match preview
Portugal are dreaming of becoming three-time winners after previously lifting the European Under-17 Championship trophy in 2003 and 2016.
Although they will be targeting silverware, Portugal’s current focus will be on avoiding a second consecutive group-stage exit.
After losing their opening game in 2023, they would have been pleased to begin this year’s competition with a 2-1 win over Iberian rivals Spain.
Portugal came from behind to claim a narrow victory thanks to goals from the Porto duo of Cardoso Varela and Rodrigo Mora.
As a result of that win, Portugal have now recorded four consecutive victories in all competitions, scoring 12 goals in that period.
England are looking to improve upon their performance from the 2023 tournament when they were knocked out of the quarter-finals by France.
The Three Lions also lost to France in a qualifying game earlier this year, but they managed to avenge that result in Tuesday’s tournament opener on Tuesday.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Mikey Moore scored either side of a Baylee Dipepa strike to give England a three-goal lead at the break, before Ethan Nwaneri added a fourth in the second period.
Impressively, the Three Lions have now scored four or more goals in three of their last four matches, ensuring they will carry significant momentum into their second group game.
This current crop of players will be looking to continue England’s impressive record in the group stage, with the Three Lions aiming to reach the knockout rounds for the ninth time in their last 10 appearances at the European Under-17 Championship.
Portugal Under-17s European Under-17s Championship form:
England Under-17s European Under-17s Championship form:
Team News
Portugal head coach Joao Santos could decide to stick with the same starting lineup that beat Spain in their tournament opener.
That would see Rui Silva resume his central defensive partnership with Rafael Mota and leave Duarte Soares and Martim Cunha to operate as the two full-backs.
Sporting Lisbon’s Gabriel Silva will lead the line for Portugal, while Geovany Quenda and Varela are set to provide the width.
As for England, Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg could be presented with a starting place after serving a one-match suspension.
England boss Greg Lincoln is likely to stick with a back three of Leo Shahar, Samuel Amissah and Kian Noble.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Dipepa and Nwaneri will continue their forward partnership after they both got on the scoresheet on matchday one.
Portugal Under-17s possible starting lineup:
Ferreira; Soares, R Silva, Mota, Cunha; Mora, Felicissimo, Simoes; Quenda, Varela, G Silva
England Under-17s possible starting lineup:
Brits; Shahar, Amissah, Noble; Mukasa, Moore, Harrison, Rigg, McFarlane; Dipepa, Nwaneri
We say: Portugal Under-17s 1-3 England Under-17s
England would have been buoyed by their statement win over France, and we think they will produce another strong display to overpower Portugal in Friday’s contest.
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