'Portugal are favourites'

Portuguese Under-21s coach Rui Cacador says his team are going out to beat England and believes his team are favourites at Wembley on Friday night.

England need just a draw to top the group and reach the play-offs, while a defeat could put Portugal out of contention for one of the four best runners-up slots.

However, while this is the last qualifier for Stuart Pearce's team, Portugal also face Ireland in Maderia next week, giving them one last bite of the cherry should they slip up against The Three Lions.  

Cacador said: "This is a match that is a deserved prize for the English and Portuguese teams for what they have done. It's like a final - an important match that will decide who comes first in the group.

"The game will also define for the Portuguese team whether we will qualify. England are going to be more calm, but being calm and having already qualified, doesn't mean they are favourites.

"Portugal have to be favourites for this match for two reasons. Firstly, because if Portugal don't win, we might not qualify, and secondly if we draw then we have another final to play in Funchal against the Irish," he explained.

"If the game goes as we expect, England will start attacking . We know the England team well and their coach Stuart Pearce is one of the best coaches at this level.

"Playing at Wembley will also motivate the English to attack more, but our knowledge of them brings us to have a realistic optimism.

"England alwasy play to win and I don't doubt that if they can knock us out they will try. We don;t depend only on this match, so we will take it game by game."

Captain Manuel Fernandes, who plays for Valencia, was also looking forward to the chance to play at Wembley, but doesn't expect it to affect his side's performance: "Wembley is special, but whether we play well or badly, doesn't depend on the stadium.

"It is a beautiful stadium and something we can remember later in our careers."

The former Everton midfielder continued: "We've analysed the English team and what they can do. We know their strong points, they are a very competitive team and they are very good on set-pieces. This is where they create a lot of danger and score goals." 

Fellow midfielder Miguel Veloso, from Sporting Lisbon, added: "Our way of playing is how the game will be decided."

We know England's danger areas, but we also have our own strong points and will do our best to win."

Portugal Under-21 Squad v England
Ricardo Batista Sporting CP
Rui Patrício Sporting CP
Gonçalo Brandão AC Siena
Paulo Machado AS Saint-Etienne
Ricardo Vaz Té Bolton Wanderers
Helder Barbosa CD Trofense
Nuno André Coelho CF Estrela Amadora
Vítor Vinha CF Estrela Amadora
Vasco Fernandes Leixões SC
Vieirinha PAOK FC
Miguel Lopes Rio Ave FC
Castro SC Olhanense
Stélvio Cruz SC Braga
Daniel Carriço Sporting CP
Miguel Veloso Sporting CP
Bruno Pereirinha Sporting CP
João Moreira Valencia CF
Manuel Fernandes Valencia CF
Bruno Gama Vitória FC de Setúbal
Carlos Saleiro Vitória FC de Setúbal
Candeias FC Porto

Coach Rui Caçador

TICKET DETAILS v PORTUGAL

If you haven't already got your ticket, then they can still be purchased from the East ticket booth at Wembley from 12 noon on Friday and payment can be made with either cash or card.

Tickets can also be purchased via a fast track entry into the stadium at turnstile M from 5:45pm. Payment here is by cash only.

All tickets available will be £10 Adult and £5 concession.