Rodrigo Gomes found the net for the second time in the 2025 U21 European Championships on Tuesday evening as the Wolves wing-back helped guide Portugal into the knockout stages.
Hugo Bueno and Spain will also join Gomes in the knockout stages, having qualified for the quarter-finals in Slovakia thanks to topping Group A, but it was Gomes’ goalscoring feats which helped secured top spot for Portugal from Group D.
Having already scored in Portugal’s 5-0 rout over Poland in the second match of the group stages, the 21-year-old was at it again against Georgia in Trencin last night as he added his country’s third in a 4-0 victory.
Gomes has had to settle for a place on the bench for his country in their three group games, which also included a 0-0 draw against France in Portugal’s opening fixture of the competition but came on in the second half in all three matches.
It took him just 15 minutes to score his first against Poland, before coming on with less than 10 minutes to go against Georgia on Tuesday but that didn’t stop him from adding his second of the competition just four minutes later as he nodded home from close range after a corner was flicked on into his path.
With seven points each, Portugal and France both progressed from Group C, but Portugal’s superior goal difference saw them top the group and set up a quarter-final match against the runners-up of Group D in Zilina on Saturday, which will be either Ukraine, Netherlands or Finland – who play their final group game this evening.
Bueno and Spain also ended their group stage campaign on seven points, tied at the top with Italy, after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in Trnava – however, the Wolves wing-back was left on the bench by coach Santi Denia.
The Wolves Academy graduate, who spent the last season on loan at Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie, had featured in Spain’s opening two fixtures, firstly coming off the bench at half time of a 3-2 win over the competition’s hosts to kick off the tournament.
Then the 22-year-old was in from the start – and produced an excellent performance at left-back – as Spain made it two wins from two thanks to a 2-1 victory over Romania.
Claiming top spot in Group A will see the young Spaniards face the runners-up of Group B on Saturday, which will either be England or Slovenia, who complete their group stage campaign this evening. If Spain and Portugal both progress through the quarters, they will face each other in the semi-finals in Bratislava next Wednesday.
Portugal U21s | R Gomes
- 1-1 vs France | 11th June, 8pm | Trencin, Slovakia
- 5-0 vs Poland | 14th June, 8pm | Trencin, Slovakia
- 4-0 vs Georgia | 17th June, 5pm | Trencin, Slovakia
- Vs Runners-up Group D | 21st June, 5pm | Zilina, Slovakia
Spain U21s | H Bueno
- 2-3 vs Slovakia | 11th June, 5pm | Bratislava, Slovakia
- 2-1 vs Romania | 14th June, 5pm | Bratislava, Slovakia
- 1-1 vs Italy | 17th June, 8pm | Trnava, Slovakia
- Vs Runners-up Group B | 21st June, 8pm | Trnava, Slovakia
