England Routed 24-0 as Portugal Women Roll into Euro Semis

Portugal’s women just delivered the kind of result that makes even casual sports-watchers sit up: a blistering 24-0 thrashing of England that has catapulted the host nation into the European Roller Hockey semi-finals. For newcomers to life in Portugal, the scoreline is more than a trivia nugget—it’s a window into a country that embraces this fast-moving, rink-side spectacle with almost football-like fervor.

The national pastime you may have missed

Ask a Portuguese colleague to name the nation’s most successful ball-stick-and-skate sport and they will probably mention hóquei em patins before they finish their espresso. The men have been continental royalty for decades, but the women’s side is now writing its own chapter. Home crowds in Paredes—30 km east of Porto—have packed the multi-purpose pavilion every night, waving red-and-green scarves and chanting names that are still unfamiliar to many expats.

Quarter-final fireworks in Paredes

Wednesday night’s mismatch against England felt over almost as soon as the first face-off. Portugal peppered the English goal with 17 shots in the opening 10 minutes, led by captain Marlene Sousa’s lightning breakaways. England, whose domestic league remains semi-amateur, managed a single effort on target—Bethan McCarthy’s speculative slapshot—before the waves of Portuguese attacks resumed. By halftime the hosts were already 13-0 up. Coaches rotated all eight skaters to keep legs fresh, yet the tempo never sagged. The public-address announcer eventually stopped reading every scorer aloud because the goals came faster than the official stat sheet could handle.

Players stamping their passports to stardom

The tournament’s scoring race is rapidly turning into an all-Portuguese leaderboard. Leonor Coelho sits on 8 goals, Maria Sofia Silva and Raquel Santos on 7 each, Marlene Sousa on 6, and playmaker Catarina Costa not far behind. Sousa also tops the assist chart with 9, demonstrating why European scouts have begun circling. Even fringe forward Sofia Moncóvio chipped in twice against England, proof of the squad’s enviable depth.

Road to the title now runs through Italy—and probably Spain

With the quarter-final formality settled, Portugal face Italy next—an opponent they already defeated 5-3 in the group stage but never take lightly. The Italians squeezed past France 4-3 and carry a flair for set-play goals that can punish lapses. On the opposite side of the bracket, Spain’s 6-0 dismissal of France all but telegraphs another Iberian derby in Sunday’s final. For neutral residents, that potential showdown offers a perfect excuse to test out your new region’s train network: Paredes station sits on the main Porto-Peso da Régua line, and match tickets rarely top €10.

How to catch the action if you’re new in town

Matches stream free on the Portuguese Hockey Federation’s YouTube channel, commentary alternating between Portuguese and English-friendly play-by-play. If you prefer the in-arena buzz, security staff allow small flags and DSLR cameras but ban outside drinks; the bar sells €1.50 finos (draft beers). Parking fills early—locals advise arriving before 18:30. And yes, children under 12 enter free, making it an easy family outing.

Why this matters beyond the scoreboard

Portugal’s women are chasing their first continental crown since 2001, a drought long lamented in sports cafés. A deep run would solidify funding for grassroots girls’ programs already sprouting in Porto, Lisbon, and even the Algarve, where indoor rinks have historically been scarce. For foreign residents looking to integrate, volunteering with a neighborhood roller hockey club can be a surprisingly effective Portuguese-language immersion course—complete with protective gear.

The semi-final faces off Friday evening. If Portugal skate past Italy again, brace for a Sunday climax that could echo across the Douro Valley vineyards and through every tiled alleyway. Even if you can’t yet pronounce “hóquei em patins,” you might soon be chanting it.