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Fired Up Friday: Portugal v Turkey Preview

June 6th, 2008 | By: Greg | 34 Comments »

If you came here expecting to find some Fun Foto Filler Friday material, then you need to smack yourself. It’s the day before Portugal’s opening match of the 2008 European Championship Finals. There’s no time for photos of Crissy on a boat in his underpants. It’s time to win.

Portugal v. Turkey
Group A, Matchday 1: June 7, 2008 @ 2:45 PM Eastern, 20:45 Local
Stade de Geneve, Geneva Switzerland

Preview
The opening match in the group stages of any tournament is important on so many levels. It allows a team to set the tone and establish itself. A win nets three points and a bit of breathing room for the next two matches while a draw or loss increases the pressure and urgency going forward.

Portugal come into this match after a second place finish from a shaky qualifying campaign and a run of disappointing friendly results (1-3 Italy, 1-2 Greece, 2-0 win over Georgia) Turkey slid in through a narrow second place finish (one point ahead of Norway) in their group which was dominated by Greece. However, those matches might as well have taken place on another planet in another dimension. The focus must and will be on the here and now.

Probable Portuguesian Primary XI

Cristiano Ronaldo – Nuno Gomes – Simão
Deco – João Moutinho – Petit
Paulo Ferreira – Ricardo Carvalho – Pepe – Bosingwa
Ricardo

I think the XI that Big Philly Style opened with against Georgia made its case well enough in the boss’s mind to have it get the run out here at the opening of the match. Nuno Gomes is obviously the lone striker with Crissy and Simmy supporting the attack from the wings. I can potentially see Scolari going with Fernando Meira over Pepe for further experience in the back, but I didn’t think any of the second half subs blew him away to the point where he feels the need to deviate from his original idea.

Key Player
Petit, Defensive / Holding Midfielder – Everyone else you read is probably going to say Crissy is the game maker or breaker, yadda yadda. If you wanted everyone else’s bland ideas you’d be there right now reading their keyboard diarrhea instead of mine. Petit will be the key to Portugal’s success in this match because he will determine how effective Turkey’s counterattack will be. With Bosingwa and Paulo Ferreira going forward often, Petit will have even further responsibility for cleaning up any Turkish counter punches that may occur in the event of a stymied Portuguese attack. If Petit can do his part, Bosingwa and Ferreira can get forward more often and support the attack to increase possession, thus increasing the likelihood that a higher percentage shot is put on goal.

Tactics
Turkey will probably be looking to slow the Portuguese attack down through clinical fouling and rough tackling in the 30-40 meter area of the pitch. If the Turks can manage to break up the flow of the game by giving away free kicks that are extremely low percentage shots or are more likely to end up as service for a header in the box, they’ll be happy to try and bully the Portuguese in their area all game. A disjointed, flowless Portuguese attack will lead to frustration on the part of the Selecção and will inevitably allow the Turkish backline a quick long ball to one of their speed merchants up front to convert into genuine opportunities.

Portugal will have to be patient and build from the back. Moutinho and Deco must look to act as effective pivots in order for the attack to be versatile and overwhelming enough to pepper the Turkish goal with shot after shot. Portugal can not take wild runs forward, be tackled and slide on the ground with hands held high, looking for a foul. Turkey will play nice and physical and the Portuguese must not respond with stupid, individualistic football. If Turkey manage to frustrate the Chops into having each player feel as though they can dribble and do step-overs past the entire Turkish defense, Portugal will be in for a long afternoon. A crisp, intelligently-built attack that relies on their skill and deft touch will yield positive results for the Portugians.

Prediction
The best way to deflate an energetic, fiery underdog is to hit it with a swift stomach punch in the opening stages. Portugal should press forward and strike early to open up further attacking play and thus usurp control of the game. I think Portugal will win a hard fought game 2 – 0, with strikes coming from Deco early on and Simão in the waning moments.

On a more personal note… Let’s open up strong and fucking DO THIS. Força Portugal!!!!!!!!!!

Tags: Euro 2008, Match Preview, Petit, Scolari

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 34 comments.

Read the rest of the comments

By musab | June 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pm

Ill put it very simply. If the Portuguese press our defenders (In particular Hakan Balta and Gokhan Zan), then they will easily win the match. If the Turks play with desire and keep their cool, they just might have a chance.

Posted from United States

By AJ | June 6th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

Bring the trophy home.

Forca Portugal!!!!!!!

Posted from Canada

By Matthew | June 6th, 2008 at 5:28 pm

Portugal got off to a bad start against underdogs Greece in 2004, and they were only OK against Angola in their first game in 2006, so I expect another slow start against Turkey.

But let’s hope for a solid first game. Viva Portugal!

Posted from United States

By Nelson from nyc | June 6th, 2008 at 8:28 pm

The game will be on ESPN classic on the dish network. channel 159, call dish and upgrade for the day its worth it dude. Dammit I can’t wait till tomorrow, I already got that nervous anticipation in my stomach. Forca Portugal!!!

Posted from United States

By Ruca | June 7th, 2008 at 6:36 am

Well some really good points here and i agree with most of it, Im a Proud Portuguese supporter and quite honestly im rather nervous ahead of this match.
I think the media only see’s Ronaldo and Ronaldo, but very little mention and respect for what is indeed a really great team in Turkey.
They have fast counter attacking football, they are very physicall and come in has the underdogs.
Still i believe that we will win on the day and my prediction is a 2-1 Portugal and i also have a feelig that Turkey will be the first to find the net in the match.

Posted from Sweden

By Pedro | June 7th, 2008 at 7:27 am

Greg, I´ll just use your words, cos everything´s already said…
“Let’s open up strong and fucking DO THIS. Força Portugal!!!!!!!!!!”

Já tá na altura de ganharmos qualquer coisa. Que seja agora!
Todos juntos, contigo até ao fim.
FORÇA PT!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Nelson from nyc | June 7th, 2008 at 7:39 am

Ok here’s the latest: Quim is out, so that means Ricardo will definitely be the man between the posts for us. Let’s GO!

Posted from United States

By Pedro | June 7th, 2008 at 9:28 am

Yeah, Nelson. But I think he´s REALLY out. Just got it and I´m not fully sure of what exactly happened. Word is that Quim broke his right wrist and consequently is out of the Euro. Newspaper Expresso says Nuno Espírito Santo (FCP) is comming in.
Still trying to understand what the hell is going on…
http://clix.expresso.pt/gen.pl?p=stories&op=view&fokey=ex.stories/340006

Posted from Netherlands

By manuel | June 7th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

viva portugal………….forca sempre

abraco de Timor Leste

Posted from Australia

By Andrew | June 7th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

WHAT A FINISH!!!!!!!!!! Wow, that game was as entertaining as I hoped it’d be. Interesting substitutions though…I’m not sure I understand what Scolari was going for so I’ll be interested to see what you all think. No surprises in the starters really…but damn, awesome game! That last goal was just what we needed to put a spring in our step for the next match. Wooooooooooooo!

By Andrew | June 7th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

and Meireles has some sick tattoos

By webrp | June 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

And the guy with sick tatoos scored one!

Portugal Team Euro 2008:
http://www.blogdabola.net

Posted from Portugal

By Arminius | June 7th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

Congratulations, Portugal ! Great performance. Score is almost an understatement. You have Ronaldo, but you have much more, too!

See you in the final!
Greets from Germany!

By Nelson from nyc | June 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

The subs were fine, Nani first sub for Nuno “Nice pass” and Miereles coming in as another holding mid. Great game the second goal was DEFINATLEY needed, a little push to the Turks and a little message to the rest of the Group. Nani Foul was professional and should have been a red.
FORCA PORTUGAL!!!!

Posted from United States

By Andrew | June 7th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

I guess what surprised me with the subs was that Deco wasn’t taken off sooner and Petit played the whole game. They both had decent games but Petit didn’t look like he had much hustle and Deco seemed pretty rusty…he could get past one or two defenders but then the ball would get taken away and Turkey would surge up the field. It happened once or twice and got me really nervous so I was surprised he stayed as long as he did. I didn’t think Petit was fit enough for 90 minutes either but I guess I’m glad he proved me wrong.

By alberto | June 8th, 2008 at 12:09 am

Portugal needs to have more confidence on it’s players They have a great team. the focus however it’s on Cristiano Ronaldo you have to realize it’s a team effort and that showed on today’s game. We all know that Critiano is capable of a lot more then what he did on toda’s game and he will come trough on the next round. VAMOS PORTUGAL AO FIM DA LUTA.

Posted from United States

By alberto | June 8th, 2008 at 12:22 am

O Sabor de Portugal na sua casa.
A taste of Portugal. http://www.sousawine.com

Posted from United States

By Arben | June 8th, 2008 at 3:28 am

No question about it Portugal is one of the favorite team to win the Euro Championship 2008.The first game is allways hard to play but I think that Portugal will be better and stronger with every game played.
Best regards from Kosova

Posted from Serbia And Montenegro

By McDes | June 8th, 2008 at 6:46 am

PORTUGALE is LOOSE
GERMANY IS BEST TEAM
BYE BYE PORTUGALE ^^ 2008 portugale-turquie 2-0 loose
(”2006 allemagne-portugale 3-1″)
2008 allemagne – portugale 4-1

http://cchhaarrllyy56.skyrock.com/

By Andrew | June 8th, 2008 at 9:16 am

I just added a “Fans of Portugal Euro2008″ application on Facebook and your blog is the default news source, Greg! And Portugal is #2 for the most fans on FB second to Italy…LOVE IT

By webrp | June 8th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

The foul over Nani was amazing, Nani was bleeding from his leg, we could see that on TV. Nuno Gomes, great player, yount see big tricks from him, but he is a real team player, as we could see in first goal from Pepe!
Portugal team on http://www.blogdabola.net

Posted from Portugal

By Manu | June 9th, 2008 at 8:49 am

with all of those players I think that Portugal has every thing he needs to win the UEFA european cup 2008, we just need to keep the head in the game and always think positively .

FORCA PORTUGAL

Posted from United Kingdom