European Under-21s: Portugal-Holland, the likely lineups
The quarterfinals of the European Under-21 2025 Championships, being held in Slovakia, kick off on Saturday afternoon, June 21. Opening the dances will be Portugal, winner of Group C, and the Netherlands, runners-up in Group D. The venue for the challenge will be the Stadion MSK Zilina in the city of the same name on the Vah River; refereeing the contest will be Georgian Kikacheishvili.
The Netherlands will be the runners-up in Group D.
The Portuguese, coached by Rui Jorge, completed the group stage with two wide wins (5-0 against Poland, 4-0 against Georgia), anticipated by a 0-0 draw with France. Defensive solidity is guaranteed by goalkeeper Soares, while in attack shines the star of Geovany Quenda, author of three goals and two assists in the first phase of the tournament.
More bumpy, so far, has been the Netherlands’s path: after a 2-2 draw with Finland and a 2-1 loss to Denmark, qualification seemed to have slipped away, but a 2-0 success against Ukraine allowed the boys coached by Milan Meteor Michael Reiziger to snatch passage to the round from the former Soviets. Midfielder Luciano Valente and striker Thom van Bergen are to be watched.
Probable lineups
PORTOGAL (4-3-3): Soares; Pinheiro, Lamba, Muniz, Rodrigues; Fernandes, Nascimento, Bernardo; Quenda, Tomas, Roger Fernandes. C.t. Rui Jorge.
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HOLAND (4-3-3): Roefs; Rensch, Van der Berg, Hato, Maatsen; Flamingo, Valente, Taylor; Manhoef, Van Bergen, Van Bommel. C.t. Reiziger.
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