Euro 2012 Prediction

With a stubborn coach who can afford to keep Carvalho and Bosingwa out and who keeps selecting Postiga, it is clear we will not go far and will more likely not get out of the group. What the Portugal team needs is to adopt a siege mentality and think the whole world is against them, which is not entirely false considering most neutrals hate the Portugal team. They need to think they are playing against the whole world and use it to unite the team and as a motivation to play as team and for each other. They could start by using the Bild’s comment about the team not making Germany scared as motivation. The talent is there and if they can play as a team and don’t make silly mistakes in defence and goal-scoring, they will go very far in this tournament.

Posted from  United Kingdom

We will finish 2nd in our group…ahead of the Dutch, but behind the Germans.

Next up: Russia in the quarters. This can go either way. They are more than capable of beating us, and vice versa.

Suppose we beat Russia…we then face Spain in the semis and that’s where our journey will end.

Forca Portugal!

@Monarchist

I must agree with you with your neutral fan observation. IT seems those who cheer for a team not in the Euro seem to cheer aginst teams rather then for teams. Teh two teams that most say they loath are Italy and our beloved Portugal. I waa speaking to a elderly couple from Norway last weekend and when they saw my Portugal flag they gave me the thunbs down so I thought I would ask them why. They have not forgiven us for out antics in teh WC in 2006. Also I have spoken to many others who seem to think our win at all cost mentality is a bad thing for the sport. The funny thing is Spain had now adopted this same approach and have had success.

@ Paulo….Wow what a insanely brave prediction to make the final. Although I too can see a result from the german game and perhaps if the Netherlands have little to play for in teh 3rd match we can tak eadvantage of their subs. But a final is too brave a prediction for me although I would love to see the money odds on that one.

Posted from  Canada

I agree with you Eusebio. I also love the hypocrisy regarding 2006. They criticise Portugal because of the match against the Netherlands and England but were all quiet when Henry dived to get a penalty against us in the semi-final. The same Henry who was then criticised for his handball against the Irish. And they never criticised Boulahrouz who started everything with his murderous kick on Ronaldo and the Dutch player who failed to give the ball back to Portugal after the Portuguese kicked it out so that some Dutch player could receive medical treatment (the incident where Deco was yellow-carded). Yet they all criticised the Dutch for their antics in the final of the last world cup. Despite this, they still feel like supporting the Dutch. And of course the Barça and Real Madrid players are much worse but all the antics by non-Portugal teams are quickly forgotten in the quest for shooting down a team from a small and poor country of just 10 million people who have given FIFA players of the year such as Figo and Ronaldo and who have vastly over-achieved.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Also, a French ref for the match against France neighbours Germany. Should have been Howard Webb because he is always impartial on Portugal matches. No doubt we will also get a castillan ref for the match against the Netherlands.

Posted from  United Kingdom

ALthough I also think we have been slighted by a few minds there are two instances that go against yout theory Monarchist. Firstly the netherlands player(Cant remember his name) was completely destroyed in the media after his high kick against SPain, however in 2006 we did teh exact same thing if not worse to Van Persse in the penalty area that went unnoticed when really it should have been a red and a penalty and would have led to defeat. IN fact after the match very little was said about the tackle yet we all focused on a thigh tackle on CR7. NOw I think its easy to admit now that we were a littl hypocritical on that one.

HOwever when discussing with the Norweigen couple about that World cup I flat out defended CR for his involvement in the Rooney debacle as well as pointed out the henry flop. However the one instance I could not defend was the Figo dive when he grabbed his face and started to flop like a fish. I still have a hard time thinking of Luis without that bad memory overshadowing his brilliance. ITs upsetting too cause I felt he should of retired from the national team after 2004 cause I thought that extending it would almost just have a negative impact which it did. NOt as drastic as Zizu but still a final taint to an otherwise top notch murel.

Posted from  Canada

Lets not get all caught up in the refs. THey will not determine our fate.

Posted from  Canada

It would be quite a tournament if Portugal comes out on top, I know many who would love to see just that. I also found this site to be quite entertaining with all the teams and predictions of the tournament http://www.euro2012predictions.com

portugal will win it all finally a website who is not stupid and only thinks spain or germany its going to be portugal mark my words

What an arrogant and provocative player that Podolski chap is. On top of suggesting Portugal will lose 2-0 on Saturday (not even Ronaldo or Nani suggested a score) he says his team will stop Ronaldo through ‘controlled aggression’ and ‘tough tackling’. This is incitement to violence. Bad idea with the likes of Pepe, Meireles and Bruno Alves on the pitch. And a recipe for a Battle of Lviv, similar to the Battle of Nuremberg in 2006. After Podolski’s comments and if the Germans come out making dirty tackles and being aggressive, I won’t criticise the Portuguese players if they decide to retaliate.

Posted from  United Kingdom

@ Monarchist

Saying that retaliation to violent play is acceptable is exactly why we are hated so much. This is what is wrong with the world today. Everyone is responsible for their own actions.

Posted from  Canada

Let the Germans make all the ruthless tackles they want. The referee for the game is one that doesn’t tolerate harsh tackles, but that can be bad for us too. I think he has given out like 10 reds in 30 matches or something like that.

Germany have the best team and depth in the tournament so if we even manage to steal a point.. I think that calls for a celebration. If we beat them? Then forget ‘Group of Death’ we’re going all the way.

Posted from  Canada

Guys let’s make a few things clear hear:
1- If we do make it through the group stages, whether that be first or second, then there is no reason why we can’t be anyone in this tournament, even the “mighty” Spain or the highly tactical Italy.

2- Carvalho and Bonsingwa cases need to be close once and for all, and i refuse to include players who argue their coaches and prefer to just retire from international football than to try and make things work (NT >>>>> Carvalho and Bosingwa)

3- This is THE perfect group for us, in 2008 we had it easy for us, going into the third match already having a guaranteed entrance into the QFs. We paid the price of being too confident. This group will surely eliminate that feeling since i doubt we’ll have an easy game in any of the three… actually i refuse to believe any of the 4 teams in the group will have an easy way.

4- Nani and Ronaldo in the front, Pepe in the back… our three talismans… of course all 11 players are important but those 3 i believe have the ability to change the way a match is going to the complete opposite direction with just one touch.

5- Again, i repeat, i am not at all saying we’ll win this, but i find no reason whatsoever not to belief that we can actually pull off a decent, if not amazing, tournament.

5- I don’t think Bento is the best coach Portugal ever had, but you have got to give him credit to what he’s done to the team after CQ has left, if it wasn’t for those 2 losses at the beginning of the qualifications, we probably wouldn’t have needed to go into round 2 against Bosnia in the first place.

6- Talking tactics now will not do any of us good, what has passed has passed, and now we must look ahead for our match against the number one contenders of the tournament.

P.S: I’m not Portuguese, and I’ve been with this team for exactly 9 years now (before the Euros 2004 even started) and yesterday I finally bought my first Portuguese jersey with our captain’s name on the back… and tomorrow i know for sure that i’ll be wearing it with pride. Forca Seleccao Das Quinas.

beat* instead of be in the first second line. -_-

@ahmad Much respect for you, brother.

Oh and by the way, I predict a 2-1 win over Germany, 2-0 win over Denmark. And 2-2 tie against Netherlands.

P.s: Lets all hope and pray that Nani is capable of playing tomorrow, If he doesn’t, Im not so sure we can pull off a surprise victory, but you never know in football.

the Nani thing has to be a mind game… Oh God i’m hoping it’s a mind game and yes we can pull off the miracle.

Out of Topic: Russia were exceptional today i really enjoyed their game and if we happen to pass round 1 and meet them they’ll be a lot tougher than we thought. BUT I WANT GREECE… nothing will make me happier than to beat Greece :@

Thank you Varela! Ronaldo, get your act together. I don’t care how many goals you score RM. Try scoring some for your country. I will wear Potugal Euro 2012 shirts to cheer you on at the game!

Posted from  United States