Comments on: YOUR 23 Men Who Will Try to Bring Home the Glory This Summer

By: Ptbola

Ptbola — Sun, 25 May 2008 23:39:59 +0000

Maniche not being on the team is disappointing as he has scored many clutch goals over the last 2 tournaments but Portugal has still selected a strong group we may have our strongest defense ever sent to a tournament and D is the key in any tournament.

My starting 11 would be:

Ricardo (Should be Quim but it wont be)
Bosingwa
Carvalho
Alves or Meira (Meira played well WC06)
Ferreira
Meireles
Petit
Ronaldo
Deco or Moutinho (Moutinho has had great year, Deco not so much)
Simao
Almeida

By: Cerdeira

Cerdeira — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:34:13 +0000

I am Portuguese and my staritng XI is:

…………………………Quim (The best portuguese goalkeeper/ Scolari don’t want to see that because he like too much Ricardo)……………………………
…………………………………………………………………
Bosingwa………Carvalho………..Pepe (or Bruno Alves)……Paulo Ferreira
…………………………………………………………………..
Deco…………….João Moutinho…Raúl Meireles (Petit is playing very bad)
…………………………………………………………………..
Cristiano Ronaldo………….Hugo Almeida…………..Simão (or Quaresma)

By: Maniche

Maniche — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:50:35 +0000

Wait. How come I don’t have a ticket for the bus? Guys? Hey where are you going?

By: Pedro

Pedro — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:45:44 +0000

@Nelson: it’s the 11 I’d pick. Not necessarily who I think Scolari will place. I think he’ll start with Ricardo, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Alves, Ferreira, Petit, (?), Deco, CR, Simão and Gomes. Being conservative I think he’ll go for Meireles or Veloso, on the (?) spot.

By: ricardo

ricardo — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:29:22 +0000

gomes will do fine in this tournament..he has enough experience and talent in him to be in the startin 11 ahead of almeida or postiga.I feel the real problem lies in midfield.a bit light weight there..with no maniche or costhina there seems to be a lack of a leader in the centre of midfield..Deco, veloso and moutinho lack consistancy this season too.. Portugal may struggle bcos of tt and also the group is quite tough in my opinion with turkey and czech in it.. Ronaldo does not perform on big games too so tt’s another thing to b worried abt..

By: Veiga

Veiga — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:57:20 +0000

I think how players have performed in big tournaments really makes a difference, and for that reason, i really think Gomes will come good when it matters (though i think he would benefit from playing with Almeida); Pauleta has been banging in goals for whatever club he’s played for, and by the bucket loads in qualification, but never put in a good performance in a major tournament against a big team (with all respect to Poland and Angola); Gomes may have been crap at Benfica and in qualification, but in the big games, he scores…England, France, Spain, Germany.
To that extent, i’m disappointed Maniche isn’t there because he’s always one of the best (if not the best) players of the tournament (let alone the team). He’d had an absolutely pants season in 05/06, in the latter half not getting a look in at Chelsea, and screwing up when he did, but at the World Cup he was immense…and he would have been at this year’s Euro.
Having said all that, a midfield of Veloso, Deco, and Meira/Petit/Meireles is both solid and creative, and on the wings we are unmatched, with a brilliant defence (only short of world class because of no proven left back, and a flappy goalie). FORCA PORTUGAL

By: humbleandmodest

humbleandmodest — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:54:35 +0000

portugal will win

By: Nelson

Nelson — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:58:15 +0000

Btw, I know it doesn’t matter now that the list is out and done…but does anyone know what happened to Manuel Fernandes’ chances? I was watching the Newcastle – Everton game this past weekend and he was tearing it up.

I saw him take every corner and every freekick…good tackles and decent passes too

By: Nelson

Nelson — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:56:02 +0000

Pedro, you think Scolari will go with Nani over Quaresma or Simao?

personally I think Scolari will choose Simao….though I would prefer Quaresma. I like Man U but I don’t think Nani is up for it yet…as he displayed a couple of weeks ago I think he’s still too immature

I really hope Almeida starts…if nothing else at least he is younger, stronger, taller, and faster than No No Golos (it really is catching on)

Plus he has a sick tattoo of a cruz on his right forearm

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:54 +0000

That’s a sweet Starting XI, Pedro