Portugal 0 – 2 Switzerland: Way Late, Somewhat Half-Assed Recap

I’ve already piled on the excuses for why this recap is so late in getting to you. I watched the match last night and took a few notes. Since it’s two days later and we have Germany to focus on now, the full-blown recaps you’ve become accustomed to will not be shown at this time. We will resume our regularly scheduled preview and recap when a match that actually counts will be played. Therefore, expect a preview of the Germany match tomorrow and a recap either later after the match or the very next morning. Scheduling issues and long-winded excuses aside, here’s your pint-sized, half-assed recap of the friendly between Portugal and Switzerland:

Big Philly’s “Eight Men Out” Starting XI

Nani – Postiga – Quaresma
Raul Meireles – Miguel Veloso – Fernando Meira
Paulo Ferreira – Bruno Alves – Pepe – Miguel
Ricardo

Phil later lamented that he wished he had started a team comprised entirely of non-usual starters. I wished he had too, but I don’t necessarily think it would have been any more effective, just probably safer from a foul / rest / injury standpoint.

Match Quick Hits / Notes

Rather than give you a half-by-half break down and an intermission summation, I’ll switch it up a bit here and go with some bullet point issues to consider:

** I wouldn’t bother attacking Portugal from any side but the right. Ferreira is out of position at left back and it shows. Every team seems to be attacking Paulo and spinning him around, having him look confused, then playing a ball to whatever side he isn’t paying attention to at that very moment. He needs Petit or someone to really give serious help going forward.

** The majority of Nani’s runs forward ended in him on the ground without the ball, grabbing whatever ankle was closest. He got hit genuinely once or twice but lost the ball a whole lot on scrambles forward that didn’t produce much.

** Does Quaresma have a bomb attached to his body that is set to go off if he uses his left foot? I mean the behind the back, reverse cross that he laced right onto Postiga’s head looked frigging awesome and did the job, but why would a defender ever even bother thinking he’s going to be fooled to the left by Ricky Q?

** If Bosingwa goes down due to injury or for disciplinary reasons, Miguel made me feel comfortable that he’ll do just fine if his number is called.

** Ferreira is lucky he’s available for Germany after that stupid challenge. A yellow card was a somewhat generous decision. It was stupid to have him out there to begin with. Quaresma’s also lucky not to have seen red a few times. Frustrated much, Daniel san?

** Another botched offside call on the Postiga goal late in the first half.

** While we’re on Postiga, he had a great motor but I don’t know if his full potential is realized in a lineup where he doesn’t have a strike partner.

** Ricardo had a nice save or two, but still is scary as all hell on set pieces and corners.

** I think it’s unfair to say that any one particular player showed that they “don’t deserve” a spot in the starting XI as a result of this match. The thing we often forget is that how a given man performs on a team that includes the likes of Deco and Ronaldo can be vastly different on a team with largely inexperienced players. That being said, no one really made a huge shout or case for inclusion as a regular just yet.

Conclusion
They lost 2-0, one on a central defensive break down and another on a marginal penalty that probably wouldn’t have been given were it not being gifted to the Swiss in Switzerland. This considered, it was the B squad and they created a decent amount of chances in a match that meant very little, the scoreline doesn’t really unsettle me in the least. Besides, it’s Alemanha time. Força Portugal!!!