Portugal’s Futsal Team Passes Final Euro Test with 3-0 Bosnia Win

Portugal’s futsal side closed its pre-Euro warm-up schedule with another commanding display, dispatching Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-0 in Oeiras. The result was less eye-catching than the 8-1 scoreline posted two days earlier, yet it offered precisely the stress test that coach Jorge Braz had requested before the team flies east in search of an unprecedented third consecutive continental crown.

In a nutshell

• Back-to-back wins over Bosnia-Herzegovina cap a ten-game preparation cycle.

• Goals from Pany Varela, Kutchy and Tomás Paçó seal the latest victory.

• Jorge Braz hails a “perfect rehearsal” against a Seleção-style low block.

• Key duo Erick & Pauleta rested as a precaution but cleared for Euro duty.

• Portugal enters Euro 2026 as the only squad chasing a historic tricampeonato.

Why the 3-0 matters

Even a routine friendly can carry weight when the defending champions are expected to lead the pack. The Bosnians abandoned the gung-ho approach that cost them eight goals in the first meeting and instead packed their defence, forcing Portugal to probe patiently. Those forty minutes under pressure reproduced the kind of tight scoreboard, limited space, mental discipline, crowd expectation, set-piece focus, keeper heroics and risk-reward decisions Portugal will face once the Euro begins. In short, the scoreline mattered less than the fact that the players looked comfortable inside that tactical cage.

How Jorge Braz reads the performance

The long-serving coach left the court with a grin, praising the side’s ability to "create chance after chance against an opponent that said no to open futsal." He singled out the twenty-plus saves from Bosnian goalkeeper Amer Delic as proof that Portugal’s circulation is sharp. Braz also welcomed the opportunity to “work humble”, a favourite catch-phrase within the camp that translates into simple passes, high tempo rotations, coordinated pressing, positional switches, quick restarts, wing-pivôt chemistry, bench contribution and an unwavering respect for detail. “It’s never about winning by eight,” he reminded reporters, “it’s about being ready to win by one when it truly counts.”

Fitness check: who’s ready, who’s resting

The only mild concern involves Erick Mendonça and Pauleta, both spectators on Saturday after nursing minor knocks during the week. Braz called the decision “zero risk” and added that the pair will be “flying” once the tournament kicks off. The medical staff reported no fresh issues, meaning the full 14-man roster – featuring stalwarts such as André Coelho, Zicky Té, Fábio Cecílio, Miguel Ângelo, João Matos, plus rising star Kutchy – should be available. The squad reconvenes at the Cidade do Futebol today for a light regeneration session, followed by video scouting, cold-water recovery, set-play drills, mental skills coaching, diet monitoring, sleep tracking and, crucially, a short farewell with family members before departure.

Roadmap to Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia

Preparation began last September in Vila do Conde and stretched across five international windows: Croatia, Latvia, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and finally Bosnia-Herzegovina. Each block targeted a specific tactical scenario – high press, possession battle, low block, physical duels, fast countering – ensuring the players have already sampled the majority of what awaits them in Riga, Kaunas and Ljubljana. Portugal’s charter flight leaves for the Slovenian capital on Thursday, 48 hours before matchday 1, giving the group time to adjust to indoor humidity, floor speed, arena sightlines, local refereeing tendencies, media duties, UEFA protocols, COVID-era logistics and the inevitable winter chill of Central Europe.

Group D crystal ball

The holders open against Italy on 24 January, then face Hungary and Poland in rapid succession. Statisticians give Portugal a 74 % chance of topping the quartet, but the coaching staff remains wary of Italian set-piece cunning, Hungary’s breakaway pace and Poland’s recent investment in dual-national talent. To finish first would likely avoid hosts Slovenia in the quarter-finals, setting up a potentially smoother path toward the showpiece in Kaunas. Internally, the mantra is clear: “one game, one mountain.” The players know a slip in the group phase could complicate the route to yet another medal ceremony where A Portuguesa blares from the loudspeakers.

Rapid-fire numbers

• 10 friendlies, 9 wins, 1 draw, 66-9 aggregate• Average possession: 68 %• Shots per match: 35, on target 21• Goals per 40 minutes: 6.6• Clean sheets: 4• Average player age: 28.1 years

A statistical edge is comforting, but Portugal’s veterans will remind you that shiny figures mean little once the stopwatch starts in Ljubljana. What counts is the muscle memory built during nights like Saturday – when victory demanded patience, resilience and, above all, the conviction that even the smallest rehearsal can shape the biggest stage.