Portugal U21 coach Rui Jorge left with bitter taste after final defeat to Sweden

Date: 1st July 2015 at 7:27am
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Rui Jorge remarked upon a bitter feeling after his Portugal side lost on penalties to Sweden in the European Under-21 Championship final.

Despite creating numerous openings in the 120 goalless minutes, the Esperancas were defeated in their second U21 final after William Carvalho’s miss sealed Sweden’s first European crown 4-3 on penalties.

Feelings after the extra time defeat to Italy in 1994 were replicated when 42-year-old Rui Jorge told reporters: “It’s a bitter feeling after all that hard work we’ve done and it’s difficult to find the positives.”

“You never feel a winner when you finish second, but this group of players has done something amazing.”

Portugal went into the final as favourites having topped Group B and dispatched a highly-tipped Germany side 5-0 in the semi-finals, conceding just one goal all tournament.

“It feels unfair at the moment because we did everything in our power to win, that’s the natural feeling right now.”

 

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