MALTA, July 16, 2023 – “It was very important to have João Félix watching our first game live at this UEFA U19 Championship, just as it is very important to have the jersey that Otávio gave us before we came to Malta. We’ve also received messages from players like Rafael Leão, Francisco Trincão, Jota who is now at Al-Ittihad, among others”, this is how Joaquim Milheiro highlights the «family» that’s been built in the Portuguese Federation throughout the last decade. This is a key aspect to him when preparing is young squad to the final game of this tournament, against Italy.

THE PAST IS IN THE PAST Although Portugal has beaten this Italian squad already once in this very tournament, and with a massive result of 5-1, the Portuguese head coach reminds us that that’s history now, and this Squadra Azzurra has changed since that game. “Italy has changed the way they play a bit in the last two games, after their defeat against us. They also played other teams, which required a different approach. We’ve concentrated a lot on these changes in our most recent training sessions, and I feel my players understand very well how this Italy team plays now and what they will need to do to win the final”, explained Joaquim Milheiro.

He’s confident in his players skills, but he doesn’t let that confidence become arrogance, as he teaches us with a saying from his own country that serves as a warning. “We can't be sending off firecrackers before the party. We have to stay emotionally balanced and be able to control the pressure of a moment like this, because it's very high. But at the same time, it's a positive pressure because we've worked a long time to get to this moment”, says Milheiro. This process started five years ago with this particular generation, that didn’t get to play an UEFA U17 Championship due to Covid-19. Milheiro knows this, he even laments it, but he looks forward know to the goal ahead.

FEARLESNESS DRIVE It’s not common for a Portuguese head coach of a national team to state publicly he wants to be champion. Fernando Santos broke that mold before Euro’2016 (and Portugal first team went the distance), but no one followed the example… until now. “Our idea of the game is to always give everything, to live the moment to the fullest, almost as if it were "the last of our lives." I'm sure this is one of the most important games for this generation of players, and I truly believe that we will be happy in the end. We really want to be European champions”, stated Joaquim Milheiro, without any fear of claiming his will, his players will, and the dream of a whole nation that’s been enthralled with this young Portuguese performance in Malta. “What I’ve seen happening is the recognition of the Portuguese people towards this team, but it is not only because we won. It's also because of the mentality of this team, the sense of solidarity, the commitment, the identity and the passion with which they play.”

STATS BATTLE THROUGH AND TROUGH This is going to be third time these national teams face each other in the final of the UEFA U19 Championship, and for now, they’re even. The Italian side took home the prize back in 2003, with a win in Liechtenstein by 2-0. The Portuguese payback came in 2018, when they beat the azzurri by 4-3 in extra time. Two of the scorers of that match – Trincão and Jota - sent encouragement messages to this team, as Milheiro told the reporters. No country has lost more finals of this competition than the Portuguese though, with four losses. They’re followed by… Italy, with three. Both squads are aiming to contradict their own history at the UEFA U19 Championship and add the second win to their record books. We’ll find out who comes out on top this Sunday, after the final whistle at the Malta’s National Stadium.