A new challenge awaits the nation’s under-19 futsal squad. They are the reigning champions, heading to Moldova to defend their European title in 2025. This isn’t just another tournament; it’s a chance to solidify a legacy, and everyone involved understands the weight of that goal.
José Luís Mendes, the team’s coach, has a clear message. He expects his players to give everything. After winning the third edition of the European Championship in 2023, held in Porec, Croatia, the team knows what it feels like to stand at the top. Before that, Spain had claimed the first two titles in this category. Now, the responsibility is about representing the country well on the international stage.
“We know these are different player groups and different championships,” Mendes shared with reporters during the preparation phase. “But we are our nation. We have a duty to represent our country and our federation. We will do everything for the best outcome. We are going with everything we have.” He mentioned that the first goal is to get out of the group stage. However, his ambition reaches further. He wants the team to reach the crucial stages and fight for the championship trophy.
The national side finds itself in Group A. They will face Italy first on Sunday, followed by Ukraine and the host nation, Moldova. Mendes knows this group will be tough. He called it “quite strong.” But he also sees a lot of growth in his young athletes. He noted that the team has been training hard for four weeks. They played practice matches to mimic the European Championship’s initial phase. He senses strong development and positive signs from this group of players. “I felt they grew a lot over these last two years of work,” he explained.
While there’s no “obligation” to win, Mendes made it clear that the team really wants to bring home the title. They have prepared extensively, hoping for “beautiful things to happen” on the pitch.
Diogo Carrera, the team captain, was part of the championship-winning squad in 2023. He spoke about the group’s spirit, calling them “united and ready to bring joy to the people.” The Benfica goalkeeper has a clear message for his teammates: “I want them to feel calm. I want them to leave everything on the court. They shouldn’t return home feeling like they could have done more. I want to make our people happy, and I want us to arrive back with the trophy.”
The national team will travel to Chisinau on Wednesday. Their first match in Moldova is on Sunday against Italy. They will then play Ukraine on September 29th and the host team, Moldova, on October 1st.
Group B features Slovenia, Spain (champions in 2019 and 2022), Turkey, and the Czech Republic. Only the top two teams from each group will move on to the semi-finals. Those semi-final matches are scheduled for October 3rd, with the final taking place two days later.