Portuguese claim 2-0 victory in Group 5

The national under-17 team got off on the right foot in the European Championships Elite Round this week, with a 2-0 win against Sweden. João Filipe and José Gomes were on target for the Portuguese.

Alvalade youngster Miguel Luís was given a place in the starting line-up, while Thierry Correia was introduced in the second-half. Luís Maximiano was given a place on the bench, while Leandro Tipote missed out through injury.

The top two teams from each group will move into the finals, which will be hosted in Azerbaijan.

Alvalade's under-13's in action

Sporting CP will be one of ten teams taking part in this year's XXXV International Youth Football Tournament, taking place from the 23rd to the 27th of March.

Representing Alvalade at the launch ceremony, Luís Dias highlighted the importance of Sporting's participation: "With the history that this competition has, it is always a memorable moment for young players. A lot of players who are or were professionals started off in this tournament and Sporting has reached the final every time in the last three years."

The ceremony also hosted the competition's draw, putting sporting into the same group as Benfica, Santa Clara, Getafe and the French side FC Lissois. Group B will be comprised of CAC, FC Porto, Cordoba and Nacional. While winning is not the priorirty for Luís Dias, the tournament is a chance for upcoming stars to shine: "At this age, it is really important that tournaments are competitive, so that everyone can enjoy it. Games are even broadcast on television now and knowing how to play in front of the cameras is important for the lads."

Project designed for youth training extended for two additional seasons

Sporting CP has extended its protocol with Sport Grupo Sacavenense. The new deal strengthens the project which began last season, seeing the two clubs work together for an additional two seasons.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Sporting's Director General for Youth Football, Virgílio Lopes, showed confidence in the project's future: "We will work together and see how far we can go. Both clubs will benefit from this. We have been working together for a year now and I am sure that we will do a lot more in the next two. Links with other clubs are crucial. We can't just go it alone. Sporting CP is a club that works really well with young players and Sport Grupo Sacavenense have developed a lot in the area over the last few years. Some good quality players have come from Sport Grupo Sacavenense to Sporting CP and we have sent some of our players the other way.

Sport Grupo Sacanvense Preisdent Manuel do Carmo also proved happy with the new deal: "This is a good project for both parts, but of course Sporting CP can be more important for us. In my opinion, these are two of the best clubs in Portugal for training youth players. Sporting is maybe the best in Europe, if not the world. The protocol has been renewed for two more seasons and we are really happy about it." 

Wing-back features for national under-19 team in La Manga Tournament

Pedro Empis played the full 90 minutes against Poland for Portugal under-19's this week, on matchday 1 of the La Managa International Tournament.

Portugal trailed twice in the match (goals from Mateusz Wieteska on 19 minutes and Jakub Kuzdra on 46 minutes), but Rui Pedro (39’) and Bruno Almeida (66’) ensured the honours were split.

Four Sporting youngsters feature on Algarve International Tournament day 2

The national under-17 team drew 1-1 with their Dutch counterparts this weekend, on matchday 2 of the Algarve International Tournament. Ferdi Kadoiglu (41’) and Mickael Almeida (55’) were the goalscorers.

Alvalade youngsters Thierry Correia and David Tavares both featured from the start in Hélio Sousa's side, while Miguel Luís and Leandro Tipote came on in the second-half and Luís Maximiano featured on the bench.

The result leaves Portugal in second, two points behind Germany.

PFF study names Sporting as top provider for under-15 to under-19 squads

What better example is there this season of the quality of Sporting's youth system than the Alvalade skipper, Adrien Silva? In inspirational form and having already banged in 7 goals so far this campaign, Adrien certainly deserves a place in the national team for Euro 2016. Another name on a long list topped by Cristiano Ronaldo of successes, Adrien would be a good bet for a Portuguese squad that has always been dominated by Sporting, starting at under-15 and going right through to the under-19 and on to the A team.

A study by the national under-21 team's assistant coach, Alexandre Silva, released by the Portuguese Football Federation, clearly positions Sporting as the team which has provided most players aged 15 to 19. The study of 430 squad lists from July 2005 to December 2015 sees Sporting dominate with 22.3% of all players lent to the nation, ahead of Benfica (21.9%) and FC Porto (18.5%).

Portugal open UEFA Development Tournament with win in the Algarve

The national under-16 team made a solid start to this year's UEFA Development Tournament this week, beating their German counterparts on penalties after a three-all draw.

In front of a home crowd in the Vila Real de Santo António Municipal Stadium, Portugal opened the scoring in the 18th minute courtesy of a strike from Rafael Camacho, before Jonathan Burkardt (36’) leveled for Germany. The second-half was very much tit for tat, with the Germans taking the lead twice (Elias Abouchabaka in the 40th minute and Killian Ludewig give minutes later), but Filipe Ramos refused to throw in the towel and after Romário Baró made it 2-2 in the 44th minute, Rodrigo Conceição set the final score 10 minutes from time.

Sporting's Gonçalo Costa featured from the start for hte Portuguese, while Diogo Brás and Tiago Rodrigues game on in the second-half. The Portuguese will next take on the Dutch, who beat France earlier in the day (2-0).

Second training camp in Rio Maior this weekend

Four Sporting players will feature in a training camp for the national under-15 squad this weekend, under the watchful eye of coach João Aroso.

Guilherme Fernandes, Rafael Fonseca, Félix Correia and Tiago Gouveia are the quartet included.