We end the Euro 2016 stadium-adding with two stadia from Portugal. And just like the Portuguese in France, these two represent very ambitious teams that may surprise you!

Tonight we add the last stadia in our project of adding new database positions for every victory of Euro 2016 knock-out stage. We selected two stadiums of clubs you should know, especially that one of them will begin its first Europa League campaign this summer. Yes, Arouca and Tondela may be small towns, but they have ambitions that might come as surprising to some. They also have modern stadiums that we present to you now!

 Estádio Municipal, Arouca

Back in 2005 there was only a training field here with no organised space for the audience. This is when local authorities invested in a modern eastern grandstand, partly covered and including skyboxes, press facilities and other features aimed at securing the club’s 3rd league license.

FC Arouca didn’t only win promotion to the third tier, though. This small club, founded back in 1951 as a subsidiary for FC Porto, gained four promotions in just seven years (!) and reached the top league in 2012/13. Which prompted the quick erection of a new west stand, eventually planned to receive a roof.

Even more boldly, the team grabbed a Europa League spot in 2015/16, receiving a temporary seating section in the north. Eventually the stadium is planned to have three permanent stands of some 5,000, each interconnected with pedestrian bridges. This way the football-specific stadium will still be able to have a running track between the stands with visitors walking above it.

 Estádio João Cardoso, Tondela

The football complex south of Tondela’s heart was built in 2005, when local side CD Tondela managed to grab promotion to the 3rd league. At that point they received the main field with two grandstands (southern main one and eastern curved terrace), a training pitch and an indoor hall.

Two following promotions not long after resulted in the team reaching Portugal’s top division in 2015, forcing further works. The building then received its north and east stands, raising capacity to some 4,500 seats and offering floodlights for nighttime games. The signature feature of this stadium is its outer wall clad with yellow and green tiles, offering a pleasant appearance.