With an average age of 28, the nation’s 23-man squad is far from being considered one of the more youthful teams at the tournament. Neither has it been considered as even close to being one of it’s best. It is however a squad with some of the most promising players under that age of 25 at Euro 2016.
Fernando Santos has said that he believes it to be his personal responsibility to guide a new generation of talent into the Portugal team, The Panenka takes a closer look.
The two sides have history and it is Fernando Santos’ men who will be looking to enact revenge for semi-final defeats in both the 1984 and 2000 European Championships.
The scenes of toddlers in full Wales kit joining their dads on the field at full-time has added to the surprise feel-good story for Chris Coleman’s squad.
However, despite a successful tournament in term of safety so far, football’s big wigs have drawn the line at allowing children onto the pitch after games.
If you didn’t already know, everyone agrees, football is more important than tennis. Yes, even Wimbledon.
The public have spoken and here’s the proof. New balls, please! Well, just footballs, thanks.
At World Cup 1982 Les blues met Die Mannschaft in a game that will not be remembered for it’s extra-time comeback, tense penalty shootout or array of magnificent players on show, it will be remembered for one ‘tackle,’ if you can call it that, by the German goalkeeper on Patrick Battiston.
In the build up to the second Euro 2016 semi-final, The Panenka looks back at that famous incident in Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizuan, now known as ‘The Tragedy of Seville.’
With one of The Super Mario Brothers out injured and the other severely lacking match sharpness, Die Mannscahft are left in quite a predicament as they prepare to face Les Blues.
The Panenka looks at the problems faced by the 2014 World Cup winners in a tale of two forwards named Mario. Continue reading
The 25-year-old Atletico Madrid striker is the tournament’s leading scorer with four goals, the first Frenchman to hit that milestone at a major tournament since Michel Platini in 1984.
Despite being rejected at youth level by several French clubs because of his size, the cosmopolitan forward appears to be hitting his stride. The Panenka looks at the growth of the man who is undoubtedly Didier Deschamps’ biggest weapon when Les Blues take on Die Mannschaft in the semi-final of Euro 2016
Les Blues are hoping to reach the final of the tournament with a victory over the 2014 World Cup winners.
Despite not yet winning a game inside 90 minutes there is something dangerous about the semi-finalists here. Their coach has a history of achieving the unachievable and could be set to reach the unreachable if ‘A Selecao das Quinas’ can defeat Wales at Euro 2016.
The Panenka takes a closer look at the Portugal boss’ team and tactics while paying special attention to the demons of disappointment from Euro 2004 and how that spirit is being resurrected to work in their favor 12 years later. Continue reading
Portugal are aiming to reach their second European Championship final while Wales are entering unchartered waters having never made it this far into a major international tournament before.
The Panenka 
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