Quinta-Feira Question Time: Does Any Team REALLY Scare You Yet?

I agree with you that is premature - and ultimately dangerous - to start speculating on what’s going to happen after the quarter-finals but wouldn’it be great if, rather than having the Germans in the semi-finals, we had them immediately in the semis. Suppose, for ex., that they fail to beat the croats and the latter manage to win their group. That would mean playing Germany with our “A team´” having had a full week’s rest while the Germans presumably would have had only two days’ rest. An interesting perspective, no?…

Posted from  Luxembourg

We didn’t really see much yet and we can’t conclude anything after seeing only one match from teams. The Czechs made a poor display against SWI but put us to the (severe) test, and they meant business. neither of us was playing bad, so enough said…

Germany has so far been the team that impressed me the most.

I’d also like to play against Spain AND BEAT THEM in the Final - but first we must get there. We only got to the quarters and don’t even know who we’ll play.
It’d be a long time since we saw two teams that openly play attacking football in a Final, for some time now (I think)…

Posted from  Netherlands

The only team in the A/B bracket that scares me somewhat is Germany. I think we are good enough to beat the Poles or Croatia (assuming Germany win’s their group). I’m worried about the Germans but at the same time I think we can beat them. We really didn’t play to win in our game against them in the WC. Third place ment more to them than us.
Ballack has a thing against Ronaldo, from the premiership, and he will not let him get much room. But if we play as a unit we can beat them. We have to to get to the final.

If we are lucky enough to get to the final then I would love to see an Iberian Derby. The best football (skill and style) is ours. Period! I think we have the Dutch’s number and they probably would rather it not be us waiting for them. I think we can finally beat the French. It’s really the Italians that I believe we can’t beat. Has nothing to do with talent. It’s just that they have a style that frustrates us and just don’t have the patience to play their game.

There you go..

Posted from  Canada

Germany is the only team from A/B that worry me. And not surprisingly, the Netherlands and Spain from C/D.

Portugal have had a few close, tough, and ugly matches with the Netherlands over the years, and in recent times they have gone Portugal’s way. I fear it might go the other way if Portugal meet the Netherlands in Euro 2008; I don’t expect it, just fear it in the back of my mind.

Spain - well, I’ll have to wait until I see how they play in their next group game, but they looked very dangerous up front. I would love to see Portugal face our Iberian brothers (”bastard brothers” as my wife jokes, but brothers nonetheless) in the Final, but that’s a long way off.

Posted from  United States

We call the spaniards “nuestros hermanos”, but in good truth, all along History, we´ve been (and this isn´t just a metaphore) cousins. Not brothers. Historically, brasilians are sort of our baby brothers.

Posted from  Netherlands

BTW, if I am not mistaken, the dutch don´t beat us since 1991. A time in which their team was the better team.
Lately, regardless of who wins, we´ve been consistently better than them (for me) at least since 2001-2002. Or at least equal.
Till 2006 both teams produced nice matches when they clashed, anyone could win, because of their flair in attacking - we both think that as long as we keep possession it´s ok and they also like to dominate and impose their game and they also believe more in attack than in defense.
They play almost exactly the same style we always do, which is atypical for a north europe team, but with a completelly different mentality and atitude. Hence the clashes, but this is just my theory…

Posted from  Netherlands

And there I was saying GER looked the more dangerous, and here they are, getting a 2-0 spanking from Croatia…

Posted from  Netherlands

Hm…the way Germany played today it looks as if they might finish 2nd the in group. Despite their lackluster play, I would still rather face Germany later than earlier.

However, getting the chance to rest some players on Sunday before a quaterfinal berth may prove to be benefical when it comes to playing a team like Germany.

Thoughts?

Posted from  United States

Re: Germany losing to Croatia …

This is good news: neither Germany nor Croatia are assured of a spot in the quarterfinals, so that means no resting for either side in their third match next week.

Croatia looked pretty good out there today, but I’d still rather Portugal face them (or Poland) in the quarterfinal instead of Germany.

Posted from  United States

Hmmm, I need to add Croatia to my list, they seem to be playing better versus bigger opponents.
Germany looked poor though, but they’ll probably recover and be better then ever and let’s not forget they managed to beat us 2 years ago with the score.

Posted from  Netherlands

i did not get to watch the german game but i am almost inclined to think it must have just been a bad day. i feel they will be a tough team to face in the quarterfinal but then again the final 8 and on should all be tough games.

is there any way that we play italy at all. i want the portuguese to play them because i feel like our team an its creativity can shred the italian defense and show that they are not really a great team after all

Posted from  United States

João, by way of your past comments you seem to be more pessimistic than most Portuguese…which says a lot, because most chops I know are extremely pessimistic.

Lighten up man! We have a great team and we should enjoy these wins while looking foward to the upcoming matches.

I do agree that we shouldn’t underestimate any team.

Posted from  United States

Nelson: My pessimism is due to the poor qualification (the Poles who drew with the Austrians, managed to beat us) besides the last time I was optimistic about Portugal was in 2002 (and we all know how that turned out) so I don’t want to jinx it.

Posted from  Netherlands

Un peu off topic, but…

Did anyone else see CRonaldo’s post-match interview in which he says “fantastic” several times just like the special one? Brilliant. The Portuguese must love that word, though I do admit it sounds much cooler when they say it.

Posted from  United States

Couldn’t resist been a Pora and all, “FANTASTIC”.
Enjoyed all the above comments guys, keep it up and best of luck to our team.

Posted from  Ireland

David,

I noticed the EXACT same thing. My friends (who are not Portuguese) love the Setanta Sports videos on youtube of Mourinho and Erikson as puppets and how Mourinho will all of the sudden say: “And in other news….I’m fantastic”. I think its the only adjective Chops are taught.

On another note, I was reading an ESPN Soccernet artile on Deco, and the columnist brouht up an interesting point…We suck crosses on D (obvious), but the Germans have two of the best strikers on crosses (Klose and Gomez). I never thought about it until then, and know that its in my head I am slightly worried.

Regardless,I’ve been extremely proud and pleased with how the team has been playing. I’m glad Harry Potter got in and got that goal. Let’s hope it spurs him to play even better and with more confidence. That can only help Portugal in their quest for Euro glory.

Posted from  United States

Reading some of this it appears that we have our wish. Germany have lost to Croatia and now can only finish 2nd - so we meet them in the QF after having a full week’s rest and they only have 3 days rest.

Then hopefully we will see the Iberian final: Portugal V Spain where we win 4-0.

What a year….

Now we just need Ronaldo to move to Spain where he can mingle with some real technical players and play some real football..not teach the English how to play the game…

Posted from  United Kingdom

Ugh…I don’t like this. Germany is Germany at the end of the day. We have a great team, but lately those damn German bastards have really been a force to reckon with. Like someone else mentioned above, I think Germany were just having a bad day against Croatia. This loss will just make them hungrier and more lethal.

Either way, it’ll be Germany and then Croatia during semis…two massive opponents.

I have faith that we can pull it. We do well against the big guns.

Wow are all chops hoping for an Iberian derby finale?
I hope so too, ’cause as much as the two of our nations get along, I just love beating the Spaniards. But if Portugal had to lose to anyone, it would be our Iberian brothers.

And hahaha @ G(r)eeks losing to shitty Sweden.

Posted from  Canada

If the Italians put in a good show against Romania, I would think that the Portuguese might not like a potential Italy - Portugal matchup because, as someone else pointed out, the style of play is just totally different.

Posted from  United States

If you were to look at the teams that did well so far, you have:

- The Netherlands playing a once in 50 years game. Not only are they, with all due respect, nothing like that good on an average day, but Italy played way below what they can do. More importantly, the way the Dutch play developed in that game does not have the character which can be repeated on a regular basis. With the first goal offside and the second one on a lightning fast breakaway, you can’t really expect that to happen in every game.

- Spain were also impressive, but arguably against an astonishingly poor defence. I don’t really think that was any evidence of what they would do playing a good team. The jury is still out.

- Sweden were also pretty comfortable against Greece, but Greece were also terrible. Jury still out again.

- Germany did well against Poland but they struggled against a good team in Croatia.

So this leaves Croatia. They had an easy walkover Austria. And they’ve already beaten a good team in Germany. More impressively, Germany did not play particularly poorly and Croatia’s good play was based on good passing and exceptional decision making. They had an extremely small amount of unforced errors. Unlike the game of the dutch, these are all things that do not come from an incidental and unpredictable inspiration but instead can be relied on and repeated in every game.

In fact, Portugal plays in a way that is very close to what Croatia does. It would be interesting to see which one can do it better in a head to head, but i’d rather see it later in the tournament and since i am supporting Portugal, i am happy that they will probably play Germany in the next round instead of Croatia.

Posted from  France

I think we are all forgetting something, this Portuguese team is much younger and much better blended. Except for the likes of ball hog Simao who i think causes friction in the squad. But still Portugal has never had a better team!

One thing about that Gemany v. Portugal Worldcup match (Portugal didnt even try…) And being pessimist comes with the territory we have been disappointed plenty.

Forca Portugal, this is our year!

ricardoc, your 50 years are like a week long

Posted from  Romania

All i know is that we are looking good, i’ll drink to that, Italy, France what a joke Portugal all the Way,
Check this website to get portuguese wines and all of the good stuff celebrate Portuguese style.

Posted from  United States

VAMOS PORTUGAL AO FIM DA LUTA.

Posted from  United States

Italy scares me because they have horse shoes up their asses. Look at the world cup and the calls they got in their favor including the beating they suffered to Australia.

Here is my prediction, Italy sneaks in, wins the next game on a questionable call, penalty kick or so on. Wns teh semi on penalty kicks by teh other team ghitting the goal posts, cross bar… then meet Portugal in teh final and beat us again because we seem to freeze up when we play the Italians.

Posted from  Canada