Portugal soccer team not in 2008 Beijing Olympics- Lost the Olympic playoff game against Italy in 2007- Video of penalty shootout

A few people got to this blog by searching "Portuguese soccer team 2008 olympics beijing." Portugal did not qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics because they lost the Olympic playoff game in 2007, in the UEFA under-21 tournament in Holland.

If Portugal had won, Italy wouldn't be in the 2008 Men's soccer Olympics.

I remember hearing the olympic-playoff game last summer over the radio Antena1 online. It was more than 2 hours long! It went to extra time and then to penalties. Up until the penalty shootout I had hope. When defender Antunes missed the penalty, and Italy went through, I felt bad for him. So much pressure.

A little more about that game:
Portugal 0 - 0 Italy (3-4 penalties)
UEFA under-21,
Olympic Qualifying Play-Off -
June 21, 2007, De Goffert - Nijmegen, Holland.

Portugal lost in the penalty shootout against Italy. Portugal defender Antunes missed the crucial penalty. Feel like biting your nails, and a Portugal fan like me, relive the moment, see the video:

Video of Italy 3-4 Penalty shootout, UEFA under-21, Olympic Qualifying Play-Off - June 21, 2007. Narrated in Portuguese.
Portugal Goalkeeper Paolo Ribeiro. Italy goalkeeper Viviano

Portugal Italy
1-1 Joao Moutinho --- Pele
2-2 Nani ---------- Montolivo
2-3 Manuel Fernandes, Italy goalkeeper Viviano saves it - Criscito scores
3-3 Miguel Veloso --- Paladino
3-4 Antunes- wide, off target- Over- Italy qualified

I've got to give credit to where it's due. Italy had played better. Italy's best player, Giuseppe Rossi, was sent off with a red-card 16 minutes from time. Aquilani had 3 shots off-target and not having a great performance. Yet, Portugal still couldn't beat Italy. These players were in the Portugal sub-21 team: Nani, Moutinho, Miguel Veloso.

I think manager Jose Couceiro would get most of the blame for not qualifying Portugal for the Olympics.

match facts:
When Antunes placed Portugal's fifth penalty wide of the post Italy – for whom Graziano Pelle, with a nerveless chip, Riccardo Montolivo, Domenico Criscito and Raffaele Palladino all converted – could celebrate their Olympic berth.

Portugal starting lineup:

3 João Pereira, * 22 Manuel da Costa 21 Antunes
4 Miguel Veloso, Semedo
10 João Moutinho 17 Ricardo Vaz Té
18 Nani 8 Manuel Fernandes 19 Silvestre Varela

substitutes

12 Ricardo Batista, 23 João Botelho, 2 Amoreirinha, 6 Organista, 7 Filipe Oliveira, 11 José Gonçalves, 13 Rolando, 14 Paulo Machado, 15 Ruben Amorim, 16 João Moreira, 20 Yannick Djaló (Sporting CP)

Coach José Couceiro

Italy starting lineup

12 Emiliano Viviano
2 Marco Andreolli, 3 Giorgio Chiellini, 4 Antonio Nocerino
6 Marco Motta 7 Riccardo Montolivo Alberto Aquilani
9 Giampaolo Pazzini 10 Alessandro Rosina 11 Giuseppe Rossi
14 Domenico Criscito

substitutes
22 Andrea Consigli 5 Andrea Mantovani 13 Andrea Coda 15 Michele Canini 16 Daniele Dessena 17 Andrea Raggi 18 Simone Padoin 19 Graziano Pelle 20 Raffaele Palladino 21 Andrea Lazzari 23 Luca Cigarini

Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi


--- End of Portugal's hopes to go to the Olympics. Jose Couceiro, Portugal under-21 manager sacked.

- Did you see that game Italy v. Portugal Olympic playoff last season?

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