Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 have started and some fans who are new to football are confused and want to know Why Portugal is not there in COPA AMERICA 2024 ?
This is because Portugal is not in the continent of South America. Copa America is a football tournament for countries of South America only. Copa America is a competition held for footballing nations from South America.
Portugal is a European country. Thus, they are a part of the Union of European Football Associations called UEFA. Just like Copa America tournament is for South American countries, UEFA Euro is a tournament for European countries. Portugal plays in UEFA Euro.
Given there are only 10 member nations of the South American football confederation, CONMEBOL, two guest nations from other FIFA confederations take the numbers up to 12 in each edition.
UEFA does not have a provision for members outside UEFA to participate in the Euro. Hence, countries outside Europe are not eligible to take part in UEFA Euro Championship.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal plays in the Euro Cup while Neymar JR. of Brazil and Lionel Messi of Argentina play in the Copa America.
The following are the continents and their respective confederations :
Europe (UEFA)
South America (CONMEBOL)
North and Central America (CONCACAF)
Africa (CAF)
Asia (AFC)
Oceania (OFC + Australia)
COPA AMERICA
Copa America is the oldest international football competition and is the third most-watched competition. Founded in 1916, the competition determines the champion of South America. The members of the competition are Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador.
These 10 teams are permanent members and always participate. Since the 1990s, teams from North America and Asia have also been invited to participate. Since 1993, the tournament has generally featured 12 teams – all 10 South American teams and two additional teams from other confederations.
UEFA EURO
The Euros is the primary association football competition contested by the senior men’s national teams of the members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). This competition determines the continental champions of Europe. Euros was founded in 1958 and is held every 4 years.
Euros have considerably more participation than the Copa America. 55 teams are eligible to play out of which 24 teams contest in the competition. Unlike the Copa, all the eligible teams have to go through a qualification process and no invitee country can participate.
UEFA EURO 2024 Groups
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
Group D: Poland*, Netherlands, Austria, France
Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine*
Group F: Türkiye, Georgia*, Portugal, Czechia
Portugal Euro 2024
Portugal will be at Euro 2024 trying to repeat the success of France 2016. With Roberto Martinez in charge, Portugal have achieved good results. Cristiano Ronaldo will again have a major role to play for Portugal. Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes will be taking on a more relevant role in the midfield. With players such as João Félix, Ruben Dias and Diego Jota, Portugal can dream big again.
Portugal ended their long wait for a major international title by beating hosts France 1-0 in the final five years ago. Portugal have always reached the quarter-finals since the tournament’s restructuring in 1996, as well as reaching three semi-finals and two finals in that time.
Portugal Squad for EURO 2020
Goalkeepers (3): Rui Patricio (Wolves/ENG), Anthony Lopes (Lyon/FRA), Rui Silva (Grenada/ESP)
Defenders (7): Joao Cancelo (Manchester City/ENG), Nelson Semedo (Wolves/ENG), Jose Fonte (Lille/FRA), Ruben Dias (Manchester City/ENG), Pepe (FC Porto), Nuno Mendes (Sporting Lisbon), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund/GER)
Midfielders (9): Danilo Pereira (Paris SG/FRA), Joao Palhinha (Sporting Lisbon), Ruben Neves (Wolves/ENG), Joao Moutinho (Wolves/ENG), Renato Sanches (Lille/FRA), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Sergio Oliveira (FC Porto), William Carvalho (Real Betis/ESP), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG)
Forwards (7): Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/ITA), Diogo Jota (Liverpool/ENG), Rafa Silva (Benfica), Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Gonçalo Guedes (Valencia/ESP), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting Lisbon)
