Comments on: Scolari calls up more new blood

By: Carlos

Carlos — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:19:13 +0000

Stay calm, there’s still a lot of work to do and we’ve got to try small steps.
On the other hand, illusions have never caused any damage – except depressions and never-ending desperation after losing against Greece or France.

Well, just to stay reliable: I’m always talking about their POTENTIAL, but somehow they lose from time to time very important games… OK, nobody is perfect.
Small is beautiful, and if you take a look at those chaotic Italian blogs, I’m happy to know that there are some REAL fans in the world who know what they’re talking about. This does NOT mean I don’t want Portugal to win any championships!

By: CR19

CR19 — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:58:06 +0000

I am disappointed in your loyalty Luis. : )

By: Luis

Luis — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:25:44 +0000

CR19,
I think that would be getting ahead of ourselves. There is far too much time left for any such declarations. I think Portugal is a contender, but anything can happen between now and the finals. Besides, there are plenty of other teams that could do it as well.

By: CR19

CR19 — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:07:25 +0000

Turning the tide? Next game will be important. Hey Luis, IF Portugal wins next game I expect you to start talking about becoming Euro champs.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 07:40:37 +0000

Scorers: C. Ronaldo (2), R. Carvalho
Man of the match: C. Ronaldo (one regular goal shot by him was not accepted – dorky ref), Nani was brought on for him when the three points were sure.

Deco seemed to be excellent… well I didn’t see the match, so I won’t comment it now… visit
http://pfutebol.com , for example.

By: Pedro P

Pedro P — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 02:27:51 +0000

3-0

FORÇA PORTUGAL…

By: Pedro P

Pedro P — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 12:52:43 +0000

In Macau, currently an event called “Lusofonia Games” is underway. Take a look at the site.

http://www.macau2006.org/en/index.php

Our U20 team beat Guiné 3-0, after beating São Tomé e Principe 6-0… These are arguably not the strongest teams in the world…

http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=730504&div_id=1194

Portugal will now face Moçambique and Angola will face Cabo-Verde. These are the last 4.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 12:46:50 +0000

Big Phil says the team’s condition has improved. He gives some very intelligent comments:
He will be very happy if they win four points in the two matches, even happier if they collect more points and less happy if they win less points.

Although some different sources tell different things, I’m quite sure now that F Meira is injured after all (but no flu for sure, as he said himself).

To my mind, R Rocha and R Carvalho will be the central defenders. I’m waiting for José António to be brought on, but it would be a great surprise if he was to play from the beginning. Simão will play on the right.

So this is the probable lineup for tonight (4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1):

Ricardo; Miguel, R Carvalho, R Rocha, N Valente; Maniche, Costinha, Deco; C Ronaldo, Simão;/, N Gomes.

It would be possible that Nani plays from the beginning, but at present his chances are really not the best, but he will be brought on if the score allows it.

Concerning the Azerbaijanis, some of the Brazilians will be interesting to watch… but they don’t have any popular or extraordinarily good players (Coach: Shakhin Diniyev).

By: Pedro P

Pedro P — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 12:32:00 +0000

Hi Carlos.

Simão is also a great freekick taker and so is CR.

I also like Petit, although we must agree he gives a sort of “roughness” element to the team. Anyway, this guy would still run, even if injured. And he is the guy who runs the most, up ad down the pitch.

I´d guess something like that about Deco… Moreover, the guy is always “squeezed” to the last drop by Barça…

Portugal drew once with Azerbaijan. It’s the type of teams Portugal would always stumble upon. The culture of “we’re better, so sooner or later the victory will come” was the downfall of the team so many times before. Fortunatelly, that trend is disappering. There are no easy matches anymore…

For what I learned, they usually put up 3 centre defenders, 3 holding midfielders, 2 strikers and 1 offensive midfield. 2 lines of well organized defense, 10 men almost permanentely behind the ball, and counters…

A few words from the man himself…

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-228/Artigo583600.htm

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-228/artigo583603.htm

By: Carlos

Carlos — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 09:47:09 +0000

I talked to a Portuguese journalist about Azerbaijan and Poland and he told me it was very likely that Scolari wants to give Deco a break by taking him out soon in the first match and let Nani play from the beginning because of his speediness and creativity.
They’ll try an offensive game, but maybe this will be doomed by a fractional tired defence…

Big Phil’s confirmed wish of secure football could backfire against a weak team like Azerbaijan which is underrated so often and only tries to betake itself to counterattacks.
In the WC qualification, this team was, of course, unorganized, slow and very insecure, but there have been some personal changes and so I don’t really know how to rate them.

Concerning the midfield, I really wouldn’t be too happy about Petit’s outfall because after losing Luís Figo, we don’t have any true freekick experts.

Petit’s situation in the Portuguese team has always been like Lucio’s in Brazil. Some say, he’s so brutal and stupid and snobbish and others think he’s the nicest guy and best player in the world (I belong to the second ones, by the way).
This won’t change, but you can’t deny Petit is a very important player for Portugal. Support him and CR and Costinha as much as you can because they really need it at the moment.