Under-19 team guide: Portugal

THE COACH:
Dinis has worked in youth football for close to two decades, starting out with CF Os Belenenses' Under-15 team in the mid-1980s. He was with Sporting Clube de Portugal from 1988-95 and in that time led Sporting's Under-15 side to the Portuguese championship in 1993/94. Since 1997, the 51-year-old Dinis has been with the Portuguese Football Federation.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
The Portuguese forward line is probably the strongest area of the team. Hugo Almeida plays first-team football for UD Leiria and scored three times in the SuperLiga last season, while Diogo Fonseca has also tasted senior football with CD Santa Clara. Also competing for starting places in attack are Filipe Oliveira from Chelsea FC in England and Sporting's Paulo Sérgio. At the other end, Portugal's prospects have not been helped by an injury to captain and central defender Valdir, which will keep him out of the tournament.

ROUTE TO THE FINALS:
Portugal received a bye out of the first qualifying round but had a more difficult passage from the second qualifying round, where only goal difference separated them from Russia at the top of Group 3. Playing in Portugal, Hugo Almeida scored in the 4-1 win over Sweden and 3-1 defeat of Denmark that preceded a showdown with Russia. Portugal ended the match with nine men and Russia with ten but the 0-0 result was enough to send Dinis's men through.

Honours in UEFA youth competitions:
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Winners 1994, 1999
Runners-up 1988, 1990, 1992, 1997
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Winners 2003
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Winners 1989, 1995, 1996, 2000

Other honours:
FIFA World Youth Cup
Winners 1989, 1991