In the city where Portugal, eight years ago, became European futsal champion for the first time, the national team broke a kind of curse in its debut in the 2026 edition of the tournament. They beat Italy for the first time (6-2) in the final stages and reinforced their status as a candidate for the “tri” in the European Championships.
The initial stage was almost symmetrical. If Italy scored early, through Musumeci (2m), following a throw-in, Portugal equalized in the final stretch, through Diogo Santos (16m), in the same way. And if, shortly before scoring, the Sporting player hit the Italian goal post (16m), Giovanni Pulvirenti imitated him shortly after (18m).
Even so, the Portuguese were the ones who tried the most to target the opponent’s goal, a reality that the goal conceded prematurely enhanced.
In addition to Diogo Santos’ goal, Kutchy (5m) and Erick (12m) had incredible misses from close range in the Transalpine goal. On the other side of the court, Bernardo Paçó was rarely disturbed, except for a frontal free-kick, taken by his Sporting teammate, Alex Merlin, which the Portuguese goalkeeper skillfully stopped (15m).
The feeling of balance disappeared in the second half, which even started with a pair of tight saves from Bernardo Paçó, with shots from Alex Merlim and Gabriel Motta, before Kutchy opened the book.
The Benfica winger scored twice in the space of a few seconds, following individual action and a first-time shot, collapsing the Italian resistance.
The question is: who can stop Kutchy? 😎#sporttvportugal #uefafutsaleuro #portugal #italia pic.twitter.com/xx5YDviTdk
— sport tv (@sporttvportugal)
January 24, 2026
It really is a goal to put your hands on your head 🤤#sporttvportugal #uefafutsaleuro #portugal #italia pic.twitter.com/7uVb359RUY
— sport tv (@sporttvportugal)
January 24, 2026
Shortly after, the score was 4-1, scored by newcomer Rúben Góis, and, to make things worse for Italy, Ítalo Rossetti, a former Sp. Braga player, was sent off shortly after due to an attack on André Coelho (28m).
Tiago Brito made the Italian defense dance 💃#sporttvportugal #uefafutsaleuro #portugal #italia pic.twitter.com/P6ozmxILlc
— sport tv (@sporttvportugal)
January 24, 2026
Even so, the Transalpine team still managed to pull one back in the 31st minute, with an unintentional own goal by Tiago Brito after a save from Bernardo Paçó.
The approach in the scoreboard was yet another reason for the Italian coach to bet on the advanced goalkeeper for the last five minutes, a strategy that only failed to bear fruit because De Oliveira, free at the far post, incredibly failed to deflect the ball towards the Portuguese goal.
Italy’s all-for-all would end up being conditioned by the expulsion of Giovanni Pulvirenti, two minutes from the end, due to the accumulation of yellow cards.
With a numerical advantage, Diogo Santos scored twice and, in the last minute, Bruno Coelho took advantage of a bad pass from the Italians, who kept their focus on the advanced goalkeeper, to close the score with an easy goal.
At 4:30 pm this Saturday, the other game of the first round of Group D of the European Championship begins, which pits Hungary against Poland. Portugal returns to action next Tuesday (4:30 pm) to face the Hungarian team, again in Ljubljana.
[Atualizado às 15h28]
