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. 葡萄牙雖然之前在青少年階段的冠軍拿到不少，在“黃金一代“出現之後，拿到過２次世 青賽冠軍（1989和1991）、４次Ｕ－１６歐青賽冠軍、１次Ｕ－１７歐青賽冠軍（2003） 、２次Ｕ－１８歐青賽冠軍。不過，明年夏天舉辦的Ｕ－２１歐青賽倒還沒拿過。 1980年代末期，Carlos Queiroz和Nelo Vingada兩人在青年隊上的革命性政策讓葡萄牙小 將們開始嶄露頭角。而現在他們兩位分別是Manchester United的助理教練和Academica的 主教練。 1988年時，葡萄牙的Ｕ－１８打進了歐青賽的決賽，結果是以１－３敗給了蘇聯。隔年， 就以這支隊伍裡的成員為主組成的Ｕ－２１參加了在沙烏地阿拉伯的世青賽。最終，有著 Ｊoao Pinto和Paulo Sousa等人的葡萄牙在被不看好的情況下拿到冠軍。造就了葡萄牙足 球歷史上首次的冠軍，和“黃金一代“的誕生。 1991年葡萄牙也參加了在國內所舉辦的世青賽，當時隊伍裡的陣容除了有之前1989年奪冠 球員Ｊoao Pinto和Fernando Brassard以外、還有Luis Figo和Rui Costa等。最後葡萄牙 也順利打進決賽，正是在光明球場的12萬名觀眾面前最後在ＰＫ階段擊敗了巴西，再次捧 起冠軍獎盃。 當初的那些球員後來有不少都到歐洲的各大頂級球隊裡去踢球，而葡萄牙國內的媒體和球 迷也開始期待將來他們能在成年的比賽裡獲得成功。到目前為止，他們是失望的。 葡萄牙沒能打進1994年的美國世界盃；1996年的歐錦賽在１／４決賽裡敗給了捷克；２年 後的1998年法國世界盃同樣也沒能打進會內賽；2000年的歐錦賽，他們迎來了奪冠的最好 機會，最終在準決賽敗給了法國。 在經過長久的等待之後，葡萄牙進入了2002年韓日世界盃的會內賽階段，但是他們在小組 賽結束之後只能打包行李回家。更糟的還在後面，2004年在葡萄牙舉行的歐錦賽裡，葡萄 牙一路上淘汰掉西班牙、英格蘭和荷蘭。但在決賽時，同樣是在光明球場，卻是成就了希 臘神話……。 雖然現在“黃金一代“的成員都幾乎不在國家隊裡了，但是也出現了一些令人期待的新星 像是Cristiano Ronaldo。而在明年的Ｕ－２１比賽裡，在Cristiano Ronaldo的缺席下， 或許Hugo Almeida和Ricardo Quaresma能夠更大放光芒。 明年夏天，葡萄牙將以地主國的身分參加明年的歐青賽。如果Agostinho Oliveira的球員 能夠取得成功，這將會是另一個特別的開始……。 --

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