http://www.uefa.com/competitions/Under21/news/Kind=1/newsId=380279.html New 'golden' boys seek silverware In spite of their rich history at youth level, Portugal have never won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. However, a team brimming with attacking talent has high hopes of ending that drought next summer after being appointed hosts of the 2006 finals. Glorious decade Portugal's junior prowess started in the late 1980s as the result of a revolutionary youth policy spearheaded by Carlos Queiroz and Nelo Vingada, now assistant manager at Manchester United FC and head coach of A. Academica de Coimbra respectively. The pair reorganised the Portuguese Football Federation's youth department and kick-started a new era, which in just over a decade made the country a major force in world football. Trophy landslide Led by the 'golden generation' of Luis Figo, Rui Costa and Fernando Couto, it brought a landslide of trophies including FIFA World Youth Championships in 1989 and 1991, four European U16 Championship victories and an U17 success in 2003, in addition to two European titles at U18 level. 'Golden generation' It all began in 1988 when the U18s reached the European Championship final, losing 3-1 against the Soviet Union. That team formed the basis of the squad that arrived in Riad, Saudi Arabia as outsiders for the World Youth Championship the following year. However, with future senior stars such as Joao Pinto and Paulo Sousa to the fore, Portugal unexpectedly lifted the title with some scintillating displays, marking the nation's first great footballing achievement and the birth of the 'golden generation'. Brazil defeated In 1991, with João Pinto and Fernando Brassard still in the side and Figo and Rui Costa emerging, Portugal staged the next U20 finals and prevailed once again, defeating Brazil in the final in front of more than 120,000 spectators at the Estadio da Luz. Those triumphs catapulted the team to stardom. With the best local players making names for themselves in Europe's top leagues, the Portuguese press and supporters alike began to demand victories in major senior competitions. So far, they have been disappointed. Senior setbacks Portugal missed out on the 1994 FIFA World Cup and, having reached EURO '96, fell to the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals. There was another World Cup qualification failure two years later before Portugal finally hit the big time at UEFA EURO 2000, making the last four only to lose to France. EURO calamity Having then ended their long wait for a World Cup appearance in 2002, the Portuguese were unable to progress beyond the first round in a disastrous campaign. Worse was to come in UEFA EURO 2004. On home soil, Portugal looked set to collect some long-overdue silverware as they marched to the final, knocking out Spain, England and the Netherlands, yet they lost to Greece in the Lisbon showpiece. Once again Portugal had failed to meet expectations at senior level. Ronaldo role Nevertheless, since the start of the 1990s Portugal's performances have risen consistently and, as the remaining members of the 'golden generation' contemplate retirement, a new crop of stars is emerging with United winger Cristiano Ronaldo as its figurehead. He is now a sure-fire choice for the senior side but Hugo Almeida and Ricardo Quaresma should shine for the U21s in his absence. Something special The seniors have reached the 2006 World Cup, and having beaten Switzerland in a two-legged play-off, their U21 counterparts can begin to make their mark as the hosts of next summer's finals. If all goes well for Agostinho Oliveira's men, it could be the start of something special. 葡萄牙虽然之前在青少年阶段的冠军拿到不少，在“黄金一代“出现之後，拿到过２次世 青赛冠军（1989和1991）、４次Ｕ－１６欧青赛冠军、１次Ｕ－１７欧青赛冠军（2003） 、２次Ｕ－１８欧青赛冠军。不过，明年夏天举办的Ｕ－２１欧青赛倒还没拿过。 1980年代末期，Carlos Queiroz和Nelo Vingada两人在青年队上的革命性政策让葡萄牙小 将们开始崭露头角。而现在他们两位分别是Manchester United的助理教练和Academica的 主教练。 1988年时，葡萄牙的Ｕ－１８打进了欧青赛的决赛，结果是以１－３败给了苏联。隔年， 就以这支队伍里的成员为主组成的Ｕ－２１参加了在沙乌地阿拉伯的世青赛。最终，有着 Ｊoao Pinto和Paulo Sousa等人的葡萄牙在被不看好的情况下拿到冠军。造就了葡萄牙足 球历史上首次的冠军，和“黄金一代“的诞生。 1991年葡萄牙也参加了在国内所举办的世青赛，当时队伍里的阵容除了有之前1989年夺冠 球员Ｊoao Pinto和Fernando Brassard以外、还有Luis Figo和Rui Costa等。最後葡萄牙 也顺利打进决赛，正是在光明球场的12万名观众面前最後在ＰＫ阶段击败了巴西，再次捧 起冠军奖盃。 当初的那些球员後来有不少都到欧洲的各大顶级球队里去踢球，而葡萄牙国内的媒体和球 迷也开始期待将来他们能在成年的比赛里获得成功。到目前为止，他们是失望的。 葡萄牙没能打进1994年的美国世界盃；1996年的欧锦赛在１／４决赛里败给了捷克；２年 後的1998年法国世界盃同样也没能打进会内赛；2000年的欧锦赛，他们迎来了夺冠的最好 机会，最终在准决赛败给了法国。 在经过长久的等待之後，葡萄牙进入了2002年韩日世界盃的会内赛阶段，但是他们在小组 赛结束之後只能打包行李回家。更糟的还在後面，2004年在葡萄牙举行的欧锦赛里，葡萄 牙一路上淘汰掉西班牙、英格兰和荷兰。但在决赛时，同样是在光明球场，却是成就了希 腊神话……。 虽然现在“黄金一代“的成员都几乎不在国家队里了，但是也出现了一些令人期待的新星 像是Cristiano Ronaldo。而在明年的Ｕ－２１比赛里，在Cristiano Ronaldo的缺席下， 或许Hugo Almeida和Ricardo Quaresma能够更大放光芒。 明年夏天，葡萄牙将以地主国的身分参加明年的欧青赛。如果Agostinho Oliveira的球员 能够取得成功，这将会是另一个特别的开始……。 --

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