<![CDATA[ Maturidade no ponto para revalidar o título de campeão europeu de futsal em sub-19 ]]>

Simão Cordeiro is the only Erasmus member in the Portuguese delegation that will defend the European Under-19 Futsal Championship. The winger represents Piast Gliwice, Poland, after three seasons at Luz, playing for Benfica. "It was an interesting offer, I decided to embrace the project, and it was a good challenge for me, for growing as a person and as a player," the 18-year-old began by admitting, before adding: "Leaving your comfort zone, your home, gives you a bit of experience, but it can also bring some maturity. It's been going well."

With his sights set on participating in the European Championship, which will be held in Moldova from September 28 to October 5, and in which the National Team will face the host country, Italy, and Ukraine, Simão is determined to retain the trophy won in 2023. "I feel motivated. It's a privilege to represent Portugal in Europe, and I feel the group is very motivated to want to renew the title," he emphasized.

However, the prestige achieved in the last edition may bring greater pressure to the team... but a positive one. "It means Portugal is at the top, and it's a privilege for the entire group to be able to defend our country," confessed the winger, who hopes to "not fail to meet the expectations" of the Portuguese in the competition.