The is the national under-21
Football team of
Portugal and is controlled by the
Portuguese Football Federation .
Following the realignment of
UEFA 's youth competitions in 1976, the Portuguese Under-21 team was formed. Until 1994, the team had a rather record - failing to qualify for each of the first eight UEFA U-21 Chammpionships. Since 1994, the team has improved its record greatly, qualifying for five of the next seven tournaments, including the 2006 finals.
Having qualified for the forthcoming
2006 tournament finals,
UEFA announced that
Portugal will host the finals in May and June. From 2007 onwards, host nations will be announced before the qualification stage and will not need to qualify.
Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start ot a two year competition, technically it is an U-23 competition. For this reason, Portugal's record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown.
- Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 2 in qualification 'group'.
- Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 2 in qualification 'group'.
- Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
- Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
- Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 4 in qualification group.
- Did not enter.
- Losing semi-finalists.
- Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 4 in qualification group.
- Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 4 in qualification group.
- Did not qualify. Finished 3rd of 4 in qualification group.
- Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 4 in qualification group.
- '''Runners-up.'''
- Losing quarter-finalists.
- Did not qualify. Finished 3rd of 5 in qualification group.
- Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 5 in qualification group.
- Finished 3rd of 4 in finals group.
- Third place.
- Qualified for finals, to be held 25 May 25 - June 6 2006 . Hosts.
