Historically considered underdogs in women’s football, Portugal have made significant strides in recent years to establish themselves on the international stage. This summer marks just their third appearance at the UEFA Women’s European Championship, as they aim to make history and leave a lasting impression.
How did they perform in previous tournaments?
Their debut in this competition dates back to 2017, when they qualified for the very first time. Although they ultimately finished at the bottom of their group, Portugal delivered commendable performances, making a strong first impression in the tournament. Portugal claimed victory against Scotland, a game they were not favourites to win and narrowly lost to England by just one goal. They unfortunately finished last in their group but certainly didn’t go down without a fight.
In 2022, Portugal were drawn into a challenging group alongside Switzerland, the Netherlands, and France, with all group stage matches held at Leigh Sports Village. Their tournament opener offered signs of promise, as they battled back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Switzerland – this year’s host nation.
However, the draw against Switzerland would be Portugal’s only point in the group stage, as they went on to suffer a narrow 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands followed by a heavy 5-0 loss to Sweden. As a result, in both of their previous EURO appearances, Portugal have fallen short of reaching the knockout stages.
What to expect this year from Portugal
Within recent years, Portugal have climbed from 43rd to 22nd under Head Coach Francisco Neto. Being at the helm since 2014, it is clear Neto acknowledges the need to develop women’s football in Portugal through the consistent growth and strengthened performances under his management.
Under the leadership of Francisco Neto, Portugal have made significant breakthroughs on the international stage, including debut appearances in both the UEFA Women’s EURO and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
From a 1-0 defeat at home to France in December 2023 to a 4-2 loss to Spain in April of 2025, the team didn’t suffer a single defeat in a brilliant run of form in the lead up to this tournament.
During the qualifying stages, Portugal put on an impressive display, showing determination to secure their spot in the tournament for a third consecutive time this summer. Across a series of 10 matches, the European side remained undefeated with 8 wins and 2 draws. Securing a solid path to earn their place on the plane to Switzerland could provide the team with the confidence needed to advance to the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
Despite exiting in the group stage of the previous Euros, Portugal have since shown consistent growth and improvements in performances as they look to make history this summer in Switzerland.
Key Players to Watch
Firstly, the skipper Dolores Silva could be defined as a Portuguese legend in the women’s game. A 16 year international career has seen her feature in every international squad at both the Women’s World Cup and European Championships. Her 171 caps make her the third most capped player in Portugal Women’s history and a wealth of experience will prove beneficial for the squad.
Another fan favorite is Kika Nazareth. Although she faced an injury setback late in the season, she remains a key figure in the squad and is widely expected to shine as one of Portugal’s standout players this summer.
Veteran players like Tatiana Pinto and Carole Costa bring valuable experience and leadership to the squad, providing both strength on the pitch and guidance for the team’s emerging talents. Young stars such as Telma Encarnação and Andreia Jacinto are expected to play crucial roles as Portugal aims to make history this summer.
