Women’s Euro 2022 team guide No 10: Portugal

This article is part of the Guardian’s Women’s Euro 2022 Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 16 countries who have qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from two countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 6 July.

As the Portugal coach, Francisco Neto, said: “We would exchange our place at this European Championship for a world without war and without the shocking events that we have been following on television: bombings, deaths … children, women, entire families in suffering, on the run. Nobody is indifferent [to this].”

He was, of course, talking about events in Ukraine that led to Russia’s expulsion from the the Euros. Portugal, having lost the playoff against the Russians, took their spot.

Portugal had finished second in their qualifying group, behind Finland after a painful late defeat in Helsinki. Then came the playoff, which Neto’s team lost 1-0 on aggregate to Russia. This summer they will try to showcase what has led to a rise in the world rankings and, whatever happens, the players will learn from the experience. “Eight years ago we were in 49th place in Fifa rankings,” says Neto, “ now we are 29th – but that’s not where we want to stay.”

The coach, meanwhile, is pleased with the preparations. “One of the great advantages is the time we will have available to work with the players.” He also thinks the Euros is a great place to develop. As he has said several times: “The only way to grow up is to be in the same place as the best”.

The team has a settled way to play in either a 4-4-2 (diamond) or 4-3-3. The first one involves two forwards operating in more free roles while the latter has a reference point at the centre of attack.

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