The young Portuguese national team is on a roll. They are chasing a spot in the 2027 European Championship. So far, they have kept a perfect record in their qualifying games. Three matches played, three victories, ten goals scored, and zero goals conceded. That’s a strong start for any team.
Central defender Tiago Gabriel spoke about this impressive run on Saturday. He made it clear the team wants to keep winning. They head to Gibraltar for their next match on Tuesday. The goal is simple: add another victory and maintain their clean sheet. “We want to be the best on attack and defense,” Tiago Gabriel, who plays for Lecce in Italy, stated. “Our aim is to win all our games. We want to qualify for the European Championship in the strongest position possible.”
The team’s manager, Luís Freire, has built a tight-knit group. Tiago Gabriel highlighted this unity. “The team works very well together,” he said. “We are a young squad, a good one. Everyone is focused on the same goals.” This strong bond is key to their success.
Tiago Gabriel himself has formed a good partnership in defense. He plays alongside Gonçalo Oliveira, a Benfica player. They had never played together before, but they’ve clicked. He trusts that any player Luís Freire chooses for the central defense will step up. “Whoever is picked will be ready to help the team,” he confirmed.
The upcoming game against Gibraltar presents a specific hurdle. It will be played on a synthetic pitch at Europa Point Stadium. This is not ideal for the Portuguese squad. They prefer to pass the ball around on natural grass. “It will make our job harder,” Tiago Gabriel admitted. “It’s very different for a team that loves to keep possession.” However, the players are not new to this surface. Many of them grew up playing on synthetic fields during their training years. This past experience gives them confidence. “We’ve all played on synthetic pitches before,” he added. “It will be a different kind of game, but our aim is still clear: to win convincingly.”
Portugal currently leads Group B with a flawless nine points. They share the top spot with the Czech Republic, who also have nine points. Bulgaria sits next with four points, followed by Scotland with three. Azerbaijan has one point. Gibraltar is at the bottom of the group with no points. They have scored one goal and let in seventeen.
The path to the 2027 European Championship, co-hosted by Albania and Serbia, is straightforward. The nine group winners will go straight to the finals. The best second-placed team will also qualify directly. The remaining eight second-placed teams will then battle it out in a play-off round.