Portugal's women's national team, "As Navegadoras" (The Navigators), are gearing up for their third consecutive appearance at the UEFA Women's Euro, with the 2025 edition set to be held in Switzerland. Coached by Francisco Neto, who has been at the helm since 2014, the team aims to build on their recent progress and make a significant mark on the continental stage.
Portugal finds itself in Group B, a challenging pool alongside Spain, Italy, and Belgium. Their group stage campaign begins on July 3rd against Spain in Bern, followed by a match against Italy on July 7th in Geneva, and concluding against Belgium on July 11th. Navigating this group will be a tough task, but Portugal hopes to improve on their previous Euro performances.
Francisco Neto has selected a squad blending experienced players with emerging talents. The goalkeeping options include Inês Pereira, Patrícia Morais, and Sierra Cota-Yarde. The defensive unit features Ana Seiça, Diana Gomes, Catarina Amado, Carole Costa, Carolina Correia, Lúcia Alves, Ana Borges, and Joana Marchão. In midfield, Neto can call upon Andreia Jacinto, Tatiana Pinto, Andreia Faria, Andreia Norton, Fátima Pinto, Beatriz Fonseca, Francisca Nazareth, and Dolores Silva. The forward line consists of Jéssica Silva, Telma Encarnação, Diana Silva, and Ana Capeta.
A key player for Portugal is Tatiana Pinto. The Atletico Madrid midfielder is a creative force and vital to Portugal's play. Diana Silva, known for her pace, is another important attacking threat. Andreia Jacinto has also emerged as a key member of the team, known for her passing ability.
Historically, Portugal has shown steady growth in women's football. They qualified for their first-ever major tournaments under Neto, including the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Their qualification for Euro 2025 involved a Nations League campaign and a two-round play-off. In the play-offs, they defeated Azerbaijan and then Czechia to secure their spot. A notable moment was the first-leg match against Czechia, which drew a crowd of over 40,000 fans.
However, Portugal's individual quality might not always match that of some of the more established European powerhouses. They have sometimes struggled to convert chances and can lack precision in the final third. The absence of Kika Nazareth due to injury is a significant blow. Defensively, they have faced challenges against stronger teams like Spain and England.
Portugal's style of play involves a mix of short passing and direct attacking intentions. Defensively, they typically organize in a 5-3-2 or 5-2-1-2 formation, aiming to remain compact and force opponents wide. They tend to employ a medium-to-high block, even against stronger teams.
Success for Portugal at Euro 2025 would mean finishing higher than fourth in the group stages, a significant improvement over their previous appearances.
