Iron defence and devastating attack: the numbers behind the Under-21s' qualifying campaign
The national side finished qualifying with 35 goals scored, just two conceded, and secured their fourth consecutive appearance at the Under-21 European Championship
Portugal concluded their Under-21 European Championship qualifying campaign this Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Czechia. Having already secured top spot in the group before the final matchday, Luís Freire's side once again demonstrated the consistency that defined their entire journey, wrapping up qualification without leaving any room for surprises.
In ten matches, the Seleção registered eight wins, one draw, and just a single defeat, away in Bulgaria. They collected 25 points from a possible 30 and, above all, confirmed the stature of a team that proved consistent from start to finish. Portugal thus secured their fourth consecutive appearance at the European Championship and their sixth in the last seven editions.
(Almost) impenetrable defence
The defining hallmark of the campaign, however, lies in defence. Portugal conceded just two goals in ten matches, the Under-21 national side's best-ever defensive record in a European Championship qualifying stage. In nine of the ten fixtures, the Portuguese goal remained completely unbreached.
Yet that solidity did not come at the expense of ambition at the other end of the pitch. Portugal scored 35 goals—an average of 3.5 per game—and finished with the second-best attack among all competing nations, trailing only Spain, who reached 47.