Currently the Portugal U19 squad is competing in the UEFA U19 competition in Hungary. Looking at this squad Benfica currently has 4 players representing the squad. Rebocho, and João Nunes(DF), Raphael Guzzo (M), and Nuno Santos (FWD). What separates these 18-20 year olds from the other ones on the team is that these players have all been given professional developmental contracts by Benfica in which they now have been promoted from Benfica Junior U19 team to Benfica B team. Let's not forget that all 4 Benfica players were semi-finalists in the first ever UEFA Youth League.
Joining these 4 players to advance to the 2014/15 B team also include: Thierry Graça (GK), Ricardo Carvalho (DF) Alexandre Alfaiate (DF), Diogo "Rochinha" Rocha (DF), Rafael Ramos (DF) João "Jota" Sousa (MF), Gonçalo Guedes (FW), and Romário Baldé (FW). This means that 10 players are advancing which means by next year if these players continue to develop and mature at the rate they're going we may very well see some of these players (if not most) playing for Benfica's squad.
If you are an "Anti-Benfiquista" reading this you may be upset that I am not mentioning the development of youth amongst the other big 3. There is great talent coming out of Sporting, and FC Porto however, the fact remains that the majority of Portugal youth squads primarily consist of current or former Benfica Youth players. Marcos Lopes is a prime example. The 18 year old Forward came through the Benfica system and left for Manchester City in 2011 when he was just 16. During his time representing the Portugal U19 team between 2012- 14 he made 21 appearances and scored 14 goals. This is just one of many players in which we hope to continue to make great strides at a club level and National Team Level.
By 2018, and 2022 The Seleçao will be formed primarily of Benfica players. The likes of Marcos Lopes, Ivan Cavaleiro, Bernardo Silva, João Teixeira, Gonçalo Guedes, Nuno Santos, Bruno Varela, André Gomes (yes he was on FC Porto youth but also was at Benfica, and when he scored against FC Porto which makes him more Benfica then FC Porto) Nélson Oliveira (Just give him a chance JJ) all demonstrate great talent and it is true that we should not assume they will be the "Best" in Portugal but the fact is that the Seixal of Benfica is an above average facility (Thank you to our President LFV) with great finances (Mostly generated from the Benfica members and sponsorship deals).
Although we don't hear much about the FC Porto schools, there is no doubt that FC Porto is always doing everything in their power to become the elitists in Portugal. Unfortunately, their B Team finished ahead of ours during the 2013/14 season. Sporting Lisbon was once the elite team for youth player development in Portugal. Over the years financial hardships (bad deals, bad Presidents) caught up with the club and yes there is still talent coming out of their school, it is not quite in bulk as they did 10-15 years prior to this World Cup.
To this day is we're (Benfica fans) constantly reminded as to how great Sporting Lisbon is for developing their players and being the bulk core of the current crop of players at the National Team level. There's Rui Patricio, William Carvalho, Miguel Veloso, Nani. Cristiano Ronaldo and a few others. In the past we have seen the likes of Ricardo Quaresma, Luis Figo, Simão Sabrosa, emerge from what is still regarded as one of the most prestigious academies in Portuguese soccer today (Sporting Lisbon).
After witnessing a terrible performance by The Seleçao during the 2014 World Cup, I am not alone when I say that things to change going forward. Some may of called it bad luck, the guidance of a bad coach or perhaps Portugal was just an injured wounded animal (before, and during the WC) going into this tournament and they really did not stand a chance in their group. Regardless of how The Seleçao did or didn't do throughout the tournament does not matter what matters is the future and the future looks bright for Portugal's youth teams better so then it's senior Men's National Team. Why does the future look so bright for Portugal's youth? because a majority of the call ups are players who are "Made In Benfica."
We understand the importance of an all Portuguese Benfica, Sporting, and FC Porto. On paper it looks great that most of your team came up through the ranks and was developed at a club level. However, the reality is that it does not work and cannot always happen for obvious reasons. Usually if a player demonstrates great talent at a young age, a bigger club will sign the player for an astronomical amount of money in which none of the Big 3 can afford. Also, for Benfica or any team for that matter to do well in UEFA competitions they can't just rely on locally produced players, they need some foreign players. It happened with the Benfica of the 60's, and now and it's happened with FC Porto successful teams of recent.
Personally, I am sick of the argument that Benfica does not have Portuguese players. If you look at the 2013/14 Liga Zon Sagres Big 3 squads Benfica had the highest percentage of Portuguese players on their roaster. There were 35 players on the main squad, 13 of them were Portuguese (37%). Sporting Lisbon had 30 players on the main squad (36%), 11 were Portuguese. FC Porto had 30 players on the main squad only 6 of them were Portuguese (20%). Also, have a look at the current squads for the Portugal Youth Teams. The U21, U20, U19, U17 are dominated by "Made In Benfica." players.
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