Last time they met, Portugal lost 4-1, in a friendly just before Korea. Kinda sugesting what was to come…

Anyway, the friendly against Denmark a couple of days ago was also not too positive, but it allowed to see a lot of new faces, Scolari trying again some sort of 4-4-2 in some moments of the second half, and basicly a big mess in the defense…

A lot of main characters are not there, and the losses are more evident in the defense part: Miguel-inj, Maniche-allowed out, F Meira-inj and also Simao. Quaresma is also injured. No more “ball-driver” Figo or front-man Pauleta, two of the strongest references of the whole team. Heavy losses… The strikers Portugal have are, as usual, not so strong. There’s Nuno Gomes and Postiga, none of them reeally IT. Hugo Almeida is just starting, comming from the U21. And as far as strikers, that’s it…

Even Petit states in the portuguese press that nobody in the team is in full strength…

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-196/artigo576606.htm

Apparently we’ll see Caneira playing tomorrow in the right, as right full-back (why, I don’t know… – maybe it has to do with Scolari’s attempts of letting 3 men in defense and crowd the midfield more when in possession, like he did with Brazil in 2002); Nani capitalized on a good performance against the danes (should take the left wing). Moutinho and Carlos Martis were also tested for the midfield against Denmark, but the first won’t be called, now that Deco is fully fit and the second got injured…

I remind all that Finlad just beat Poland 3-1, a team that reached the finals of WC06 and disputed groups with Germany. So, the days of the “easy-teams” are over… Italy just drew with Lithuania, proving this point…

However, confidence is strong…

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-196/artigo576612.htm

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-192/artigo575711.htm

Interestingly, Carlos Martins just might be on the starting 11, tomorrow. Nani’s fellow midfielder in Sporting is more likely to ocupy Deco’s place, in view of the fact he might not play.

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-191/artigo575539.htm

There’s been some talk, about the team changing it’s usual formation

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-191/artigo575539.htm

(or at least starting to consider other variations). It’s something that could be called 4-5-1, or 4-2-3-1 or simply 4-3-3. The game depends heavily on the wingers.

One of Portugal’s chronical weak spots, is clinical goal scoring. Something that doesn’t help is to usually have technically brilliant wingers, providing excelent service, but not so strong scoring. Only one striker also doesn’t help putting the ball in, but allows a strong performance in attacking and/or possession. So, why not replacing one of the wingers for a mobile striker, keep the fix classic #9 and have one winger to be the main ball carrier and/or wide man, kinda half-striker, in the good old south american tradition. The usual defensive, central and attacking mids, 2 center backs and 2 full backs…

Nuno Gomes is excelent in the “mobile striker” position but nothing special as “all-purpose #9″ (he’s also getting old), Helder Postiga is nothing special no matter where (but scores lovely penalties) and I guess could only be the less mobile striker, Hugo Almeida is the new kid, already playing for Werder Bremen, big guy. Let’s see what comes out of there tomorrow…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD5pdR-pfwU