Viana's vision of the future

Portuguese playmaker Hugo Viana is being widely touted as the new Luis Figo or Rui Costa, but despite helping Sporting Clube de Portugal to the league and cup double, Viana will not be going to the FIFA World Cup. Instead, the player voted by all Portuguese sports daily newspapers as the “newcomer of the year” this season will continue his development as the star of a well-fancied Portuguese team.

Rapid promotion
That is despite that fact that he has only played one match for the Under-21 side after being a regular on the Under-19s before his Sporting breakthrough. Indeed, he started this season playing for the Sporting B side - which plays in the third tier - before being called up for the Portuguese national squad after only 100 minutes in the Portuguese 1. Liga and he has reportedly been targeted by Italian clubs since being hailed as “the new Rui Costa”.

Realistic outlook
Although he has now played three times for the senior national team (against Angola, Spain and Brazil), Viana was aware that his U-21 selection was likely to rule him out of the senior squad even before António Oliveira announced his 23-man squad for Korea/Japan on Monday. He told uefa.com: “I was called for the U-21 side and I think that going to Korea/Japan is no longer possible. The [UEFA European] U-21 Championship ends only three days before the beginning of the FIFA World Cup. So, it is almost impossible to take part in both competitions. If the national coaches decide that I should go to both tournaments, of course I will, but it will be almost impossible to happen”

World Cup dreams
He added: “The decision [ to be included in the U-21 squad] did not catch me by surprise as I was already prepared to accept it. My priority always was the U-19 and U-21 teams. It was an unforgettable sensation being in the national team with all that fantastic players. And, for that, I must thank António Oliveira for the opportunity. Like all players, I had a period in which I dreamt about going to the FIFA World Cup, but in that group of players, I was the one with less chance to be chosen.

Sporting chance
”I was not expecting to be chosen and that what had happened. I recognise that a player who is a first-team player in a team like Sporting has always the doors open to the Portuguese national squad, but it is very difficult to go to Korea/Japan, “ he added.

New focus
But Viana is ready for the imemdiate challenge of the UEFA European U-21 Championship in Switzerland. He concluded: “But, for now, I must concentrate in the U-21 national team and on helping my team and country to do well in the tournament”.