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Maniche, Caneira seeing orange

June 23rd, 2006 | By: Luis | 21 Comments »

(all links in Portuguese)

Maniche and Caneira were today’s press conference darlings. During the 20 minute question and answer session, both players stressed that Holland is a very difficult adversary, but that the team feels confident Portugal will find a way to overcome them.

“We are expecting a very balanced game. Obviously Holland is and always will be a major football power. They are building their experience. They introduced many new players that are looking to prove to the coach and their nation that they will be there for Holland for many years to come. We have to be careful and mindfull of the fact that it will be a very difficult game, but I’m certain that will be able to overcome this obstacle,” said Maniche. “The team that plays better as a unit, that is more compact and has more luck, will win the match,” he added.

Maniche would be happy if Sunday’s result turned out like the match two years ago, at Euro2004, where Portugal defeated Holland 2 – 1, but he stressed that games of the past don’t mean much. “I always want to score goals in every match. The match against Holland in the Euro was special for me because of the goal I scored, but the most important thing is the team. It was a lovely goal, but it’s part of the past. Now there are new matches to think about.”

For his part, Caneira went out of his way to down play the history between Holland and Portugal, stressing that what matters is what happens on the pitch on Sunday. “Holland has very strong forwards, but we have high quality in every position too. Our defense is ready to shut them down,” he stressed. “Our team will have to be near perfect on defense and offense. We can not waste any opportunities,” he continued.

The Portuguese defender went on to say that Holland and Portugal will enter the match toe to toe and that neither team really wants the favorite tag. I agree with him on that issue, favorites or not we’re glad to hear that our team is focused on events on the pitch. Nothing matters except for the 90′ of action this Sunday. We know our team can still improve over their last three games. If they don’t, I’m afraid Portugal will be making an early exit.

It’s time to reach into that extra fuel tank boys. In the meantime, all us ‘tugas’ will be saying our prayers, since a little divine intervention won’t hurt either. If there is a G-d, I’m hoping he’s wearing red and green on Sunday.

Força Portugal!

Tags: Caneira, Holland, Maniche, Portugal

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Comments

By Boris | June 23rd, 2006 at 7:51 pm

Ola Luis – great job on the blog here.

I’ve just arrived in berlin today – does anyone have reccomendations on the best place to go and see Sunday’s game in the company of a good strong Portuguese crowd?

By Luis | June 23rd, 2006 at 8:24 pm

Alright all you lurking bloggers. It’s time to help Boris out. If you’re in Berlin or you know where the ‘tugas’ hangout for game day, post the best options.

Posted from United States

By Luis | June 23rd, 2006 at 9:35 pm

joe – the majority of the teams in the world haven’t won anything in football, but that doesn’t stop us from trying and neither do watered down racist comments like the one you just made.

Força Portugal!

Posted from United States

By Luis | June 23rd, 2006 at 9:37 pm

By the way, I’d explain the differences in ethnicity between Spaniards and Portuguese, but that would be a waste of time since you probably don’t even know what a Lusitanian is.

Posted from United States

By m. nuncio | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:00 pm

There are no ethnic differences between the Spaniards and the Portuguese, only linguistic and cultural ones.

Posted from United States

By Roland | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:01 pm

I really don’t mind being insulted, but someone stating that we are “watered-down spanish” just pisses me off, we had wars with the spanish for up to 4 centuries, do you know what the word means, centuries? Well do you punk?

Just kidding. Now seriously our independence came at high price for our people, so, please don’t insult us.

Posted from Portugal

By m. nuncio | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:07 pm

“Now seriously our independence came at high price for our people” e nota-se que valeu a pena…

What high price was that?

Posted from United States

By Luis | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:08 pm

nuncio that would depend on what parts of spain and portugal we’re talking about wouldn’t it? I was making a general point. The bottom line is that Joe is out of line.

Posted from United States

By Luis | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:09 pm

From now on, I will delete comments that are purely insulting or hateful. If you have a good or bad point to make about football or our team, we welcome your criticism, but insults, jabs or outright taunts will be deleted.

Posted from United States

By O Grande Trinco | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:12 pm

Caldas17, make no mistake that there is no America Junior complex, if Americans perceive that then clearly you have been watching too much CNN and lack any understanding of the culture to your north.

Evey nation, people, group, has it’s moron, and Canada is no exception.

Joe is clearly ignorant and should be ignored from now on, some people cannot be taught new tricks!

Posted from Canada

By caldas17 | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:15 pm

nuncio – interesting point you make – sad that you are not even capable of using dicitonary.com
Class is now in session: Ethnic – Of or relating to a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage. Hmmm – considering portugal has the longest standing borders in europe, a distinctly separate language and cultural behaviours which are considerably different than those found in spain…

Posted from United States

By caldas17 | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:45 pm

i thought about posting an apology to all the ‘non-joe’ folks in canada and my comment was meant as an immature, childish response to an immature, childish comment. all but the greatest of respect to canada and all others – in fact, if it were a little warmer up there…

Posted from United States

By O Grande Trinco | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:45 pm

Let me just add the feeling of neutrals is “it’s too bad one of these top teams is going to get eliminated early”,

Phil’s cautions to be serious, professional and focused is clearly showing in all the words said by the players. This is positive since any small error could spell disaster. It’s been said, but regardless of the outcome, I hope Portugal continue to show team solidarity and spirit, then I will be proud of them.

FORCA PORTUGAL !!!

Posted from Canada

By André | June 23rd, 2006 at 11:54 pm

I thought this blog was about football…

Anyway, wanted to state here that Tiago and Caneira do not have enough quality to be in our national team. I do not understand certain journalists that mention that Tiago did a good job against Angola and Mexico. Caneira is even worse – everytime he had the ball I was sweating… I simply do not like players who are afraid of the ball – they receive the ball when they’re completely free and immediately try to get rid of it – only once in a while Tiago tries to shoot (if he does not find another player who can clearly receive the ball). Thank God Deco and Nuno Valente will be back against Holland.

Posted from United States

By m.nuncio | June 24th, 2006 at 12:14 am

Caldas- No taunts, no jabs. For the sake of accuracy, both “ethnos” and “demos” are incredibly complex terms, and as such beyond the simplistic definitions of a service like dictionary.com. The definition of “ethnicity” (if there is in fact any such thing) and its importance in constructing the “myths” of the modern nation-state (of which an embarrasingly provincial hatred of Spain was used to forge a specific type of “Portuguese” identity, during Salazar’s dictatorship, rather than understanding that our wars with Spain were always dynastic, and therefore not by “the people against the foreign invader”) is naturally outside the scope of this blog. Class session is now over.

Forca Portugal!!!

Posted from United States

By O Grande Trinco | June 24th, 2006 at 2:12 am

Well yeah Caneira looked shaky, but again, he was sub and was his first game. Who else could’ve Scolari chosen? Leftback is not a position where Portugal has luxury of 2 solid players. And if he is on the team Scolari is best to give him a runout earlier than later. Fereira will remain an option if need be on left.

As for Tiago, he played well positionaly, but agreed that he still seems nervous on the ball and isn’t providing the 2way role like Maniche is doing. But I certainly think he is capable of better things.

FORCA PORTUGAL!!!!!

By caldas17 | June 24th, 2006 at 3:13 am

nuncio – i’m not in complete agreement with your synopsis, but touche and back to football… cheers

By Dcruzzin | June 24th, 2006 at 5:49 am

Micha,
The group of death? R U 4 real? HA HA HA HA HA….ironically Micha in Portuguese sounds like what i would like to do on all your comments….Ballack…. only wishes to play with such Class A soccer players as C.Ronaldo and don’t be a playa hater…

Posted from United States

By Liliana | June 24th, 2006 at 1:08 pm

Hahaha, thaat was hillarious Dcruzzin! Micha on those comments, indeed
I have faith that Portugal is going to win, though it’ll definitely be a tough game…
GO PORTUGAL!