Italy Spoils Portugal’s Party in Paredes, Winning Roller-Hockey Euro Opener

Portugal’s rink-hockey dreams opened with a wobble this week: the national team, egged on by a packed crowd in Paredes, slipped to a 3-2 loss against Italy, missing a late penalty that could have salvaged a draw. With the home European Championship only just underway, the result leaves the hosts playing catch-up before the quarter-final round.

Why this tournament resonates beyond the rink

Even if you have never brandished a stick on skates, roller hockey – or hóquei em patins – is woven into the country’s sporting fabric. Portugal boasts 24 continental titles, and matches regularly draw TV audiences large enough to rival football on a slow news night. For many newcomers living in Porto’s northern suburbs, the choice of Paredes as host city offers a timely excuse to explore the green Minho landscape while absorbing a uniquely Portuguese spectacle. Cheap rail links from Porto-Campanhã and a festival-like fan zone outside the arena make attendance unusually hassle-free for those still mastering local transport hacks.

Opening night: nerves, noise and an Italian comeback

The group-stage curtain-raiser at the Pavilhão Rota dos Móveis began brightly for the hosts. Winger Alvarinho, one of the few squad members playing his club hockey abroad, rattled the post, then equalised after Andrea Malagoli’s opener. When Rafa flicked Portugal in front early in the second half, the 3,000-seat venue erupted in chants of “Campeões”. But Italy wrestled back control through Francisco Ipiñazar’s deflected effort and, nine minutes from time, Alessandro Verona buried the winner on a rapid counter. The decibel level dipped only once more: Gonçalo Alves saw his late direct free-hit smothered by Italian keeper Samuel Centeno, triggering groans from every corner of the stands.

Missed chances and tactical lessons

Coach Paulo Freitas spent most of his post-match availability dissecting squandered opportunities rather than praising Italy. “We created enough to win twice,” he said, referencing not only the saved penalty but a sequence of 17 Portuguese shots that whistled wide. Neutral observers pointed to an unusually passive high press that allowed the Azzurri’s back-line extra time on the ball. Yet the more telling metric was Portugal’s 0-for-2 conversion on direct set pieces, a discipline they normally dominate. The silver lining: possession tilted 62 % toward the hosts, suggesting underlying control if finishing sharpens.

What the dressing room is saying

Captain Hélder Nunes struck a pragmatic note. The veteran defender reminded reporters that the European format now guarantees a quarter-final berth for every team: “Better to absorb our punch early than later,” he mused, hinting at past tournaments where Portugal peaked too soon. Goal-scorer Rafa echoed that sentiment, labelling the defeat “a stern wake-up call”. Across the aisle, Italian coach Alessandro Bertolucci praised his squad’s mental fortitude inside a hostile building, while cautioning that “Portugal on home floor can flip a tournament in one evening”.

Road ahead: Andorra first, bigger hurdles later

Despite the setback, qualification scenarios remain straightforward. Portugal faces Andorra next, a side they thrashed 7-1 at the 2023 World Cup. Victory would steer the hosts into a likely semi-final showdown with either Spain or Switzerland, depending on other results. For fans booking last-minute tickets, evening sessions begin at 21:45, leaving time to catch the suburban train back to Porto before the 00:40 cut-off. Organisers have added bilingual signage and cash-free kiosks after feedback from international attendees during last year’s under-19 championship.

Rink-hockey 101 for newcomers

Unlike ice hockey, matches unfold on a wooden surface no bigger than a basketball court. Four skaters and a heavily padded keeper per side contest two 25-minute halves. Games rarely break for commercials; instead, momentum swings through direct free hits awarded after every tenth team foul – the very scenario Portugal failed to exploit against Italy. A draw proceeds straight to a penalty shoot-out in knockout rounds, so sharpening those set pieces now is non-negotiable.

Whether you crave a crash course in Portuguese sporting culture, or simply a loud night out on polished timber, the European Championship still has days – and, the home camp insists, redemption arcs – to run. One unchecked box remains: seeing Portugal lift silverware in front of its own supporters for the first time since 1998. Two goals proved too few on opening night; the adventure, though, is far from over.