I think the rating and some of the comments have been too hard on Simao (although the “arguing” over the free kick with Deco was stupid) and I think he made more of a positive impact than Moutinho. He’s more physical and that’s one thing that Portugal lacks up front. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing Quaresma in the starting lineup, but maybe in place of Moutinho instead of Simao.

I’m seeing a little bit of the “leaderless” nature of Portugal, which worries me going forward, but I’m hoping that Scolari can keep them together and playing as a team.

Petit – I think he did a decent job, although I agree he shouldn’t have been taking those shots. He hustles, and is good at defending the Portuguese turf.

Ricardo – he really scared me a few times this match, more than I can remember from previous matches (I don’t get to watch much club football, but I take it he sucks at set pieces in general). I’m just hoping our luck holds up with set pieces, and hey, if Portugal end up in another penalty shoot-out, I’ll be thankful that Ricardo is there.

Overall a great match, Portugal showed tenacity and CR and Deco did a great job. I’m glad that Portugal can rest some of their key players this next match, and give some of the other guys a chance to warm up so that if/when they’re called on to play in the later games they will have already had a chance to play out their first nervous moments.

Viva Portugal!

For the Swiss game I think all the carded players will rest. He should give Ronaldo a break because he’s had a long season and we need to conserve him for the later games. I think he’ll start but get taken out early. Up front we should see Almieda actually start and get subbed for Postiga later in the game. And we should see Nani get a start. I’d play Deco and Moutinho because they need to get to learn each others tendences in games and Deco especially needs more game time. Plus Deco hasn’t played much in Spain this year so fatigue shouldn’t be a factor with him.

Go Portugal!

That being said, if he scores and assists on every “bad” game he has, I won’t complain a bit. I don’t think that he was a candidate for man of the match though.

Petit should not be playing a full 90…Raul Meireles should come in for him around the 60-65 min mark, b/c its obvious that he breaks down and starts making bad tackles. Hell, start Meireles over him.

As for CRon not covering the left backs position, thats not his job. I understand people who say that he can’t be the best in the world if he isn’t perfect, but I don’t really care whether he’s the best or not. When Portugal is on defense he doesn’t help out as much because he needs to rest…no one can make those blistering runs for the whole match. Paulo Ferreira’s job is to cover the left back of the pitch, and he sucked at it yesterday.

Again, I actually like it better that no one really stood out (at least in my eyes), because I would prefer everyone to play well rather than one guy to play amazing and everyone else to just be ok.

Petit did suck. I have a genuine understanding of the trinco role he’s supposed to be fulfilling and while he did well in it for the first match against the Turks, he did not do so in this match. You can’t justify the shots he took with the other firepower options we have up front. He looks winded, out of sorts, and plays unsettled football. The nervy clearance past the touch line when he was surrounded by white shirts gave the Czechs the corner they converted on to tie 1-1. His job in the first match (which he did relatively well) was to fill in where the marauding defenders ran forward but his clearances were rushed and incompetent and to justify those shots he took from 30+ meters out is an abomination.

Simão’s touch is not becoming of a forward, he never settled the ball cleanly and confidently to make any genuine, consistent use of the service he was given. Deco was easily a candidate for man of the match and I considered him v Ronaldo up to the final time I went to publish.

PETIT SUCKED?

Dude you do not understand ZIT about football! Petit pratically defended alone on the center of the midfield he was HUGE!
every shot he made was dangerous!

Simao was a bit of the game but had an important role in positioning the team.

Moutinho was way too off he was the weaker link this game.

And Deco was indeed the best player of the game.

OK, I’m very happy that we beat one of the potential candidates to the title and an extremelly strong team. I go even further and say that things are shaping up for us to nmeet Germany in the semis, which (IF we get there, IF they get there, IF we beat them), would arguably be the most difficult match we’d need to play, including the Final itself.

Anyway, now the focus is on SWI, who don’t want to go out with a single point, while the czechs and the turks fight themselves to the death…

BTW, Greg, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Deco following Scolari to Chelsea as well, BBC are saying he’s gonna try and get Kaká, so I imagine you’d be even happier… Anyway, I’m very curious to see how the mixture Roman (+ friends) + Big Phil is gonna turn out…

FORÇA PT!!!