Portugal’s men’s team kicked off the GoldenCat tournament with a gritty win. The national squad squeezed out a 4-3 victory over host Catalonia. This event is a key warm-up for the European Championship. That big tournament will happen in Paredes from September 1st to 6th. The first match took place in Cerdanyola del Vallès, near Barcelona.
Coach Paulo Freitas started with Xano Edo in goal, alongside Hélder Nunes, Zé Miranda, Miguel Rocha, and Gonçalo Alves. Portugal began the game looking sharp. They moved faster and created the best scoring chances. Gonçalo Alves scored the first goal on a clever solo play. Catalonia, even without their full roster of top players, made it a tough fight. Their defense was very organized. Aleix Marimón tied the game for Catalonia. Zé Miranda then put Portugal back in front with a delicate chipped shot. But Marc Julià quickly answered with a similar play, leveling the score again.
In the second half, Xavier Aragonès gave Catalonia their first lead of the match. However, Zé Miranda was in top form, and he scored another chipped shot to tie things up. The winning goal came from Miguel Rocha. He finished well from inside the penalty area. His strike sealed the victory for Portugal.
In another match, France showed incredible strength. The team, coached by Portugal’s Nuno Lopes, crushed Italy with a shocking 9-0 score. This was France’s biggest win ever against Italy. These two countries have played for almost 100 years. Portugal will now face Italy this Friday at 2:30 PM.
Women’s Team Fights to a Draw
Marlene Sousa returned to the National Team
The women’s team also faced Catalonia and secured a 3-3 draw. Catarina Costa, Leonor Coelho, and Raquel Santos scored for Portugal. This match was notable for some big returns to the national squad. Marlene Sousa, Maria Sofia Silva, and Maria Vieira, all from Benfica, were back. This trio had missed the 2024 World Cup in Novara.
Ricardo Barreiros made his debut as the women’s national coach. Portugal’s women’s team will play Germany this Friday at 2:30 PM.