On Tuesday, Spain Under-17s will face off against Portugal Under-17s in a highly anticipated clash on matchday one of the European Under-17 Championship.
Spain, with a rich history in the tournament, aim to secure their fourth title, while Portugal seeks their third championship win.
Spain U17s: Form and Prospects
Spain Under-17s have a storied history in the European Championship, having won the tournament three times, with back-to-back victories in 2007 and 2008, and another win in 2017.
They successfully navigated the qualifying rounds, securing their spot in the tournament for the eighth consecutive time.
Spain showed resilience in the qualifiers, finishing second in their group behind Austria, with notable wins over Norway and Slovenia.
Potential Lineup and Key Players
Manu Gonzalez: Expected to be the starting goalkeeper.
Joan Martinez and Duegi Aguado: The Real Madrid duo will likely anchor the defence.
Quim Junyent, Marc Bernal, and Juan Hernandez: The Barcelona trio are set to control the midfield.
Adrian Arnuncio: Fresh off his senior debut for Real Valladolid, he will be a key attacking threat.
Portugal U17s: Form and Prospects
Portugal Under-17s also boast a proud history, having won the European Championship twice, in 2003 and 2016.
They dominated the qualifying rounds, winning all six games to secure their place in the tournament.
Despite their strong performance in qualifiers, Portugal has faced recent group-stage exits, making their opening match against Spain crucial for building momentum.
Potential Lineup and Key Players
Diogo Ferreira: Likely to start as goalkeeper.
Rui Silva and Rafael Mota: Expected to form the central defensive partnership.
Rodrigo Mora, David Daiber, and Joao Simoes: Set to feature in midfield.
Gabriel Silva: A potent goal threat, having scored six goals in as many qualifying matches.
Prediction
The last encounter between these two teams ended in a 1-1 draw, and a similar result could be on the cards with both teams eager to avoid an opening defeat.
Our prediction: Spain U17s 1-1 Portugal U17s
FAQ
When and where is the match between Spain U17s and Portugal U17s taking place? The match is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 4 pm UK time, as part of the European Under-17 Championship.
How many times have Spain U17s won the European Under-17 Championship? Spain U17s have won the European Under-17 Championship three times: in 2007, 2008, and 2017.
What is Portugal U17s’ track record in the European Under-17 Championship? Portugal U17s have won the tournament twice, in 2003 and 2016.
How did Spain U17s perform in the qualifying rounds? Spain U17s finished second in their group during the elite round of qualifying, securing victories over Norway and Slovenia, but losing to Austria.
How did Portugal U17s perform in the qualifying rounds? Portugal U17s won all six of their qualifying matches, ensuring a dominant path to the European Under-17 Championship.
What was the result of the last encounter between Spain U17s and Portugal U17s? The last match between these two teams ended in a 1-1 draw.
Spain 
Portugal 
