The Portugal national women’s team will be playing in their first-ever FIFA World Cup. It is a momentous occasion for the European nation who sealed their berth for the marquee international tournament via the UEFA qualification playoffs.
Francisco Neto’s troops finished second in Group H behind pool champions Germany and had to play two rounds of playoffs.
When the ranking of second-placed teams was done, Portugal found themselves in the seventh position which meant they had to win two more matches to realise their dream of World Cup participation.
In round 1, they defeated Belgium 2-1 with Fatima Pinto scoring in the 89th minute to fire her team to the next round. In round 2, they were pitched against Iceland. After a fierce battle of 90 minutes, the two teams were inseparable as they were locked at 1-1. However, in extra time, the Selecacao das Quinas shifted gears and scored four to progress to the World Cup Intercontinental Play-off against Cameroon.
Portugal were valiant and Carole Costa’s 94th-minute winner knocked out the Cameroon “Lionesses” who reached the round of 16 at the last two World Cups to seal their tickets to Australia & New Zealand.
They have been placed in Group E along with the Netherlands, Vietnam and United States.
Who made it to Neto’s 23-player World Cup squad? GOAL takes a look…