Antunes fresh for U21 finals bid
Friday, May 11, 2007
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Full-back Antunes is sure Portugal will go "beyond their limits" as they go from a hectic domestic season into the Under-21 finals in the Netherlands.
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'Extra motivation'
The 20-year-old defender is having a memorable year, having first won a place in the FC Paços de Ferreira team at club level before forcing his way into José Couceiro's Portugal U21 plans. Antunes said minds are fresh looking ahead to the tournament. "Nobody will talk about fatigue after a long season," he told uefa.com. "The extra motivation of being in such an important event is enough for any player to go beyond their limits."
'Tight and balanced'
The tournament draw placed Portugal in the same group as the hosts, and title holders, Netherlands and Antunes said: "It is clear that the Netherlands have the advantage of playing at home but the teams start the tournament on an equal footing. I believe that all games will be very tight and balanced. Portugal have a strong team too and we have to be very focused, giving everything we can."
National ambition
Known for having a cannonball shot and being good at set-pieces, Antunes harbours hopes of demonstrating his talent at a higher level and he has set his sights on a place in the full national team. "I know that it is very difficult because Portugal have great players in all positions but that’s a major objective in my career, a dream that I want to turn in reality," said Antunes.
