Portuguese storm

When Germany were crowned world champions in 2014, the world suddenly took notice of the silent revolution that had began in 2001, the year that marked the inception of compulsory academies in the Bundesliga. It was a measure largely forced by the lack of sporting success, compounded by a disastrous Euro 2000 – when coincidentally Portugal beat the “Mannschaft” 3-0.

In the recent U21 Euro Championship, Portugal beat Germany 5-0 on its way to the final, a game lost to Sweden in the penalty shootout. Suggesting a swing towards the south in the football power stakes is a step too far, and one defeat does not detract from the excellent work being done in Germany. However, this result as well as the performance of the U20 in the world cup held in New Zealand, may suggest something slightly different is happening in the land of Cristiano Ronaldo.

In Portugal, proper youth academies are still a privilege of the Big 3 – Benfica, Porto and Sporting – along with Guimarães. Braga have just uncovered plans for a state of the art academy. Up and coming clubs such as Rio Ave are also doing their bit, but the strategic decision to support young talent is perhaps more to do with the economic crisis, rather than a surge in the quality of young talent. Which has always been there, most would argue.

Perhaps the most telling measure was the re-introduction of the “B” sides in 2012, which had been abandoned in 2006. At the time, “B” sides were restricted to playing in the third tier competition, while currently they are allowed to play up to the second tier. “B” sides must field at least 8 starting players aged between 16 and 23, and 10 of the 18 players included in the match sheet must be locally trained, i.e. have been registered for at least 3 seasons with the Portuguese Football Association between the ages of 15 and 21.

Each player in the U20 starting eleven in New Zealand boasted an average of roughly 29 games played in 2014/15, and most of them in the Portuguese II League. The U21 starting eleven contained players who had starred for their “B” sides in 2013/14 and now have either moved on to Europe’s best leagues or have established themselves as regulars for well established teams in the first league. If it were not for the “B” sides, most of these guys would have had to wait another 2 or 3 years before getting a taste of proper professional football, and some would have found it hard to drag themselves out of the depths of the semi-professional ranks.

What to make of it then? Regulations do not make Cristiano Ronaldo’s, Figo’s or Bernardo Silva’s. That sort of talent is born out of strategy and execution – look no further than the Germany case study – or some sort of the genetic and social predisposition, in which case we will always struggle for consistency. However, proper regulations will put in place competitions that foster the affirmation of young talent, its impact so immediate that it defies any long-term strategy. There is no substitute to proper competition.