The Portuguese women’s table tennis team is eyeing a spot among Europe’s elite. Coach Mário Pedro Couto has made it clear: a top-eight finish is the main goal for the upcoming European Team Championship. The action kicks off in Zadar, Croatia, running from October 12 to 19. “We have a squad that pushes us to aim for the top half of the standings,” Couto told the Lusa agency. “Making the top eight won’t be easy, but that’s what we’re focused on right now.”
Portugal arrives at the championship as the fourth-ranked team in Europe. They find themselves in Group D, set to face Belgium, ranked 12th, and the Czech Republic, ranked 13th. The top two teams from each group will move on to the Round of 16. Couto knows these opponents well. He pointed out the Czech Republic’s Hana Metalova as a major threat. “She is their best player, very strong, and can cause us a lot of trouble,” he warned. Beating Belgium, however, seems more likely, even if it requires a solid effort.
Couto, managing his first European Championship for the women’s team, believes that securing a top-eight finish hinges on a strong start. Winning the group is crucial. This strategy aims to dodge the toughest opponents in the early knockout rounds.
Navigating the Ranking Trap
Despite Portugal’s strong fourth-place ranking, Couto understands the competition is fierce. “Being fourth is fair, but several teams outside the top four can still give us a hard time,” he explained. He even brought up a potential “ranking trap.” Sometimes, a top team might ease up in their group matches, perhaps to rest a player. If they finish second in their group, they could then face another strong team surprisingly early in the Round of 16. This means even a group winner like Portugal could face a tough match sooner than expected.
Couto emphasized that these subtle details are often overlooked. He believes it’s unfair and unwise to assume Portugal will reach the semi-finals just because of their ranking. “I’d love for that to happen, of course,” he admitted. “But it disrespects our opponents, who are very strong. Teams like Sweden and Ukraine are not in the top four, but we know playing them would be a battle.”
A Blend of Experience and Youth
The squad heading to Zadar reflects a careful balance. Mário Pedro Couto is bringing two seasoned players: Jieni Shao, ranked 56th in the world, and Fu Yu, ranked 58th. Alongside them are two promising young talents. Matilde Pinto, 19, is ranked 455th globally and has already competed in a past European Championship. The youngest on the team is Júlia Leal, just 16 years old and ranked 666th.
Couto sees these younger players as a clear investment in the future of the national team. He stressed the importance of not overloading them with pressure but also setting a high standard. “Jieni and Fu Yu are fantastic mentors,” he noted. “Their approach with these younger athletes gives us confidence that our efforts will pay off.”
A History of Success
Portugal’s women’s team has a proud record in the European Team Championships. They’ve earned three medals: a silver in 2019, followed by bronze medals in both 2021 and 2023. Individually, Fu Yu has also celebrated three podium finishes, taking silver in 2016 and bronze in 2013 and 2015. This history of success only adds to the high expectations for Zadar.