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Portugal v. Germany: Quarterfinal Preview

June 18th, 2008 | By: Greg | 61 Comments »

Portugal v. Germany
2008 UEFA European Championship Quarterfinals: June 19, 2008 @ 2:45 PM Eastern, 20:45 Local
St. Jakob-Park, Basel Switzerland
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Preview
Germany come into this quarterfinal encounter qualifying out of second place from Group B, which saw Croatia take all three matches. Germany defeated Poland 2-0 in the opener, lost to Croatia 1-2 in the middle match and defeated co-hosts Austria 1-0 in their final group encounter.

Portugal won Group A and come into the quarterfinal match up against Jogi Bear’s team with an identical group play record. Portugal won comprehensively against Group A runners up Turkey 2-0 in the opener and then clinched the top spot with a 3-1 dismantling of the Czech Republic in their second match. With eight out of eleven starters on the bench, they lost the final (read: meaningless) group match 0-2 to co-hosts Switzerland.

Probable Portuguesian Primary XI

Cristiano Ronaldo – Nuno Gomes – Simão
Deco – João Moutinho – Petit
Paulo Ferreira [on a yellow] – Ricardo Carvalho – Pepe – Bosingwa [on a yellow]
Ricardo

While the B Squad had some effective attacking chances against the Swiss, I don’t think anyone made a huge shout for inclusion in this match. Simão has been largely ineffective in attack for the first two matches and if we’re down I can see him being potentially switched out or maybe even Moutinho for that matter. Simão is too good at penalties for him to be a late change should it look as though the match were going to be tied and headed for spot kicks. With Paulie Ferreira on a yellow and his play at left back somewhat suspect thus far, he, like your sister, will probably be busy all night handling balls coming in his direction.

Key Player
Ricardo, Goalkeeper – He’s exposed himself way too much so far in this tournament that SOMEBODY has to take advantage. More likely than not, Germany will provide Portugal with the first genuine test where the Selecção may not have the luxury of spending 95% of the match in the opposition’s half. Between the corners and overall higher German technical ability, Ricardo may need to come up big in a few spots to ensure a spot in the semis for Crissy and Co.

Tactics
Deutscher Fußball-Bund came into the tournament hot favorites and have looked like lukewarm quarter finalists. Striker Lukas Podolski’s brace against Poland aside, their attack has been nothing short of anemic. It took a Michael Ballack (big up, the Chels!) free kick screamer to give them the 1-0 lead against Austria as they struggled to form coherent forward play out of marginally superior (52%) possession. This German team feels way too much like the Czech Republic to me with how they’re playing right now. At this point, the biggest difference between those two teams is that Germany have a number of stars who can simply take a game over and win it for their side. The Czechs never seemed to have that star presence on the field that, often times in tournaments such as this, is the difference between being in the match or in the stands. Germany need to press out-of-position (and out of sorts) left back Paulo Ferreira from their right attacking flank and look to exploit Portugal’s one glaring weakness in the tournament thus far: crosses from corners and set pieces. The higher up you see the German corner kick tally go, the more likely it will become that Ballack will get that noggin on at least one of them and put it past an indecisive Ricardo. On the other hand, if Moutinho and Petit do an effective job of frustrating the German forward movement and find an open Deco, who will be vital to the attack, this match could get ugly for Jens and co. real fast.

The two Portuguese wins featured mostly solid, creative attacking play from front to back. The Germans can expect more of the same: a flowing, building attack coupled with speed and effective passing. However, given the strength of the German midfield which has a potent attack of its own, the Portuguese may not be able to commit as many men forward as they would like. With right back Bosingwa’s desire to further prove he was born to be an attacker, Petit will have his work cut out for him when the German midfield stifles any of Bossie’s runs forward and builds their own attack from the newly opened up left flank. If the Germans manage to shut down the likes of Deco and Ronaldo, the midfield attacking creativity will be more than likely kaput and then we’d be in deep shit.

Prediction
Attacking, energetic football from a well-developed midfield passing scheme has been the key to winning matches in this tournament. Germany haven’t done enough of this thus far to make me think that they can defeat a Portugal team who are coming into their own and finally playing as a cohesive unit. Therefore… Portugal 2 – 0 Germany.

This was supposed to be our most difficult match en route to the final. A big win here will serve as a hell of a statement game for the Chops. So… Let’s get out there, keep the whining and dicking around to a minimum and play to our maximum fucking potential. Força Portugal!!!!

Tags: Chelsea, Cristiano Ronaldo, Euro 2008, Germany, Ricardo, Scolari

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 61 comments.

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By Bingo | June 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm

It was a pity that Portugal lost the game but Germany did it pretty good, well done guys!

By Cris | June 19th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

Unfortunately, the loss doesn’t come as much of a surprise. History was not in our favor. Germany stepped up and our boys did not. End of story. No excuses. That Swiss game killed the momentum. Once again, the theory that the rested team (Portugal) has an advantage against a team that had to play for their lives (Germany) is proven wrong. Schweinsteiger worked for it and earned it. Crissy and company didn’t work enough. Is it just me or did they finally start to turn it up at the end of the game… as if they suddenly became motivated once they clued in to what was really happening?!? Ugh.

Posted from Canada

By Joe Soares | June 19th, 2008 at 4:26 pm

Ricardo, set pieces, dead balls all fuckin kill us

By Cris | June 19th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

Just looking at the stats… we had 8 corners (Germany had 3), 57% ball possession, 6 shots on net (Germany had 5), and 12 shots wide to their 5. From the look of things, we did not lose due to a lack of opportunity… looks like a lack of finish… maybe a lack of heart?! Are they going to blame this on outside distractions (Scolari, C-Ron)? Who’s earned the blame for this one?

Posted from Canada

By João | June 19th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

Too much individuality, long range shots into nowhere (instead of passing the ball).

Posted from Netherlands

By Christian | June 19th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

umm….could anyone identify the whereabouts of a Mr. Ricardo Carvalho? I believe he was last seen in a match vs. the Czech Republic but as been nowhere to be found since….

On another note, that was depressing, frustrating, and whole list of similar words. It unfortunately was not a surprise. I called the Klose right after Petit committed the foul. The refs screwed us again for the second big tournament in a row with a shitty call and non-call (i.e. Henry being “tripped” by Carvalho, Ballack push off). I hate this wondering “what if” period after a loss. Qualifying for 2010 needs to begin asap so I can move on. Unfortunately we don’t have the youngins in the Olympics to give us an immediate distraction.

Blah, I apologize for my rant. Eventhough I always thought if we had to meet the Germans we would lose before the final, I still had high hopes for this team to finally get that elusive big tournament title.

Posted from United States

By Beto | June 19th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

Can;t say I didn’t see it coming. Resting the team definitely broke momentum but there are a host of other problems; terrible finishing and terrible defending did us in. What I’m mostly upset about is the players desire to shine on an individual basis rather than play for the benefit of the team as a whole.

Was it the Turkey or Czech game where Ronaldo, Simao and Deco argued about who would take the set piece? Too many ME players!!

Here’s to a Croatia vs. Russia Final (I hope)!!!

By mamue | June 19th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssss *YAHOO*
germany will rock the final…

By Beto | June 19th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

And to think, I was a key-stroke away from booking travel to Austria/Switzerland for the tournament; I had the miles for the travel, My wife had given me the green light to go and I had a buddy willing to go along just for the partying. Am I glad I didn’t. I feel terrible and it would only have been worse there.

IMHO, things don’t look good for 2010 either. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of depth on the current team or in the sub-20, 19, 17’s.

Here’s to a hopeful 2012 in Poland/Ukraine. I’ll be there if I’m still around!!!

By Germania | June 19th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

From Germany:

We will prevail !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or not ..

By Germania | June 19th, 2008 at 5:37 pm

We did.

By Fritz Gehbauer | June 19th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

All:

Don´t take it that seriously; neither the winners nor the loosers. It was great entertainment both by the leaders and the runners up. Great fight and a wonderful advertisment for our football.

Fritz Germany

By Bap | June 19th, 2008 at 5:47 pm

Bye Bye Portugal Germany 3 – Portugal 1,
Thats too much.
We didn’t play well.

Maybe next time

Posted from Portugal

By Germania | June 19th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

Bap:

Too much fado, after all:

It has not been 3 : 1

but 3 : 2

Greets from Germany

By AJ | June 19th, 2008 at 6:33 pm

Well, I say this after every tournament…2010 will be Portugal’s year.

The saying is losing some momentum…

Posted from Canada

By jonkon | June 19th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

aside from carvalho, deco and simao, this team was shit. WHERE ARE YOU PORTUGAL???????

Posted from United States

By Andrew | June 19th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

i didn’t even think simao was that great. bosingwa and deco though…if scolari has his way chelsea is sure gonna be sweet.

By ricardo | June 19th, 2008 at 11:00 pm

Scolari substitutions and tactics are bad.. wads the pt of keeping fererria or bosingwa on the pitch when u r losing 3-1. in my opinion he should have brought on both almeida and postiga to partner nuno gomes up front.. 3 out and out strikers to counter the towering defence of the germans. but wad can i say scolari is well known for being a stubborn manager and refuses to change formation even when facing defeat..

Posted from Singapore

By Ronaldo #1 | June 20th, 2008 at 12:07 am

Germany won. They played a better game. I hope we will be better next time. P.Chop.

By Ronaldo #1 | June 20th, 2008 at 12:13 am

Why do the Germans love our county so much? Cause it rains too much there!!! I wish they didn’t own most of our beaches though. They do give us jobs. We need them cause fish are rare these days.

By Portugal08 | June 20th, 2008 at 12:17 am

Listen, I am from Toronto and proud of the portugal team. We don’t need the Germans to give us jobs. I am in the construction business and proud of it.
P08

By Italia | June 20th, 2008 at 12:19 am

yeah, with a pick up truck or a white van. Italy #1.

By Dom | June 20th, 2008 at 1:08 am

Germans are 7″ taller which means a few generations to catch up. Ronaldo is great!! The port defence needs help. Germans will always be better.

By kelvin watuwa | June 20th, 2008 at 2:34 am

The germans deserved it since though being the weeker side,they played with a passion to win.ronaldo is safering from fear of failure so he cant perform:sorry!!!!

By Matthew | June 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

I’m still gutted about Portugal’s loss to Germany yesterday.

The Germans were very effective at exploiting Portugal’s two weakest links: P. Ferreira (playing out of position) and our terrible defense against set pieces (especially, but not exclusively, Ricardo).

It was a close game and things could have very easily gone differently at several points, but, that’s football.

I would have liked to have seen Quaresma thrown in toward the end rather than Nani, because while I think Nani is good, he was just more of the same, and didn’t add anything different to the Portuguese attack. I think Quaresma could possibly have helped shake things up just a bit more and maybe Portugal could have picked up that third goal and forced the game into overtime. But who knows.

Portugal underachieved this time around, but as a whole Portugal is still punching above its weight in world football, and they will be contenders for the 2010 World Cup. I think Scolari gave the Portuguese national team something that they needed during this phase, but I think a new coach with some new tactical ideas will not be a bad thing for Portugal.

Posted from United States

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