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Portugal gets the job done

June 21st, 2006 | By: Luis | 27 Comments »

Portugal’s second team put in a solid performance today. Mexico proved that they don’t have any quit in them, but Portugal showed it can also play disciplined and patient football. Maniche started off with a smashing shot in the 6′. Simão also had an excellent game creating chances for his teammates and scoring a penalty kick in the 24′. After that, Portugal tried to settle down into a controlled game and suffered a goal by Fonseca in the 29′. The rest of the game saw Portugal maintain its defensive composure while Mexico tried to capitalize on several good opportunities. Ricardo finally came under pressure and made several good saves proving some of his critics, myself included, that he’s in good form and mentally ready for the second round.

Mexico put up a good fight and if it wasn’t for a missed PK it could have been a draw. They will go through to the second round as well. Good luck to them. For now Portugal will be watching the Holland vs. Argentina match, later today, to see who they will play this Sunday in the round of 16 . Watch this space closely for post game interviews, later today.

Força Portugal!

Tags: Maniche, Mexico, Portugal

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 27 comments.

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By Luis | June 21st, 2006 at 7:07 pm

There is always room for improvement Steven, and PT will face tougher challenges ahead in the second round. I would have liked to have seen a 3rd goal, but controlling a game with defense is just as important.

Posted from United States

By Luis | June 21st, 2006 at 7:09 pm

That goal by fonseca could have been avoided if PT had a second man on that far post. Scolari fix that please.

Posted from United States

By Ceasar Lourenco | June 21st, 2006 at 7:42 pm

Yes we still seem to struggle on corners…
The last corner Ricardo should’ve been able to hold that ball??

Posted from Canada

By Luis | June 21st, 2006 at 7:52 pm

hehe….. this wasn’t a briliant game for pt but they got the job done …. well were only 4 wins away from the cup….

Força Portugal

Posted from Portugal

By Danny | June 21st, 2006 at 7:52 pm

Congrats Portugal on winning the group. Remember five starters were on the bench and you still won. I enjoy watching Portugal play. After watching their first game against Angola my team became Portugal. While initially rooting for the Africans due to the “Hollywood” storyline of the two countries and being of African descent I then became infatuated with the style the Portuguese play. This team has a chance to be better than Eusebio led 1966 team. It’s great to see Figo playing at the level he has performed at 33. This team is very balanced and will be a force to be reckoned with. As the Portuguese fans say, Forca Portugal!

By Ceasar Lourenco | June 21st, 2006 at 7:55 pm

Your right Danny, we got the job done with the bench. And I think that whats inportant is that we are improving with every game and finishing first gives us an extra day for rest and practice.

It’s looking good especially if we get by the next game…

4 more wins and DONE!

Posted from Canada

By steven | June 21st, 2006 at 7:58 pm

go me!!my name got mentioned by luis!!haha. yer we kept posesion rly well a few sloppy passes but tht was fatigue i think,overall it was ok, we did what we had2 i guess but as you say room 4 improvement and we must improve,but i still believe!!!luis dya think they will improve?? and whoeva they face in round 2 dya think they will progress?? and win it??

Posted from United States

By SANDY | June 21st, 2006 at 8:23 pm

I agree…we have to take advantge of the corners we have and we MUST, MUST be better at watching corners taken from other teams. I would say to also take advantage of attacking when we have it.

No matter what i am very proud!

FORCA PORTUGAL

Posted from Canada

By Joka | June 21st, 2006 at 8:47 pm

Good show and Good luck Portugal.

By Luis | June 21st, 2006 at 10:01 pm

thanks to all the well wishers. Nice to finally hear PT get some respect for a solid group stage, but now is when the real work starts. Now we have to show discipline and aggressive play against teams equally as good or far better. Mental and physical discipline! Now, one mistake and you’re out. 3 down and 4 to go for sure, but there are other teams doing the same math, right now.

Argentina or Holland, doesn’t matter.

Força Portugal!

Posted from United States

By Beto | June 21st, 2006 at 10:19 pm

I think that the quality of play has really improved and it was great to get the subs in for some quality time. This match really benefited us in a number of wats: We got to see what the subs can do, we got to rest some key players, we remain healthy and finally (and most important) we get a win….Everything that we could hope for.

I think that Simao deserves “Man of the Match,” every time that he touched the ball, something wonderful happened.

It’s time to enjoy this one for a bit, tuck it into our pocket and prepare for the next. Whoever it may be.

I am very proud!!!!

Forca Portugal!!!!

Posted from United States

By Huge | June 21st, 2006 at 10:36 pm

I agree with Luis. Portugal has earned some of the respect that it deserves but it never seems to be enough. The media seems to always attack Portugal’s mediocare performances and they keep referring to Portugal as an underachieving team.
I feel that Portugal did an excellent job today, especially with its subs who all proved themselves. The coach is taking this tournament one game at a time, thinking very strategically into things. I feel that with all the talented players that we currently have, (especially with most of them being rested for the next game) and the experience that our players bring to the game we have the ability to go further than we ever have.
Let’s not forget that this is a tournament and anything can happen and although we might not be favourites at this moment, we are slowly eliminating any negative media comments one game at a time and at the same time proving ourselves to the world as a Force to be Reckon With.

Viva Portugal!

Posted from Canada

By Kelvin | June 21st, 2006 at 11:22 pm

Where’s that Louie guy who kept on bashing Portugal and was so sure of a Mexican victory today?

Posted from Canada

By Louie | June 22nd, 2006 at 12:57 am

PROUD.. WELL DONE.. what are you talking about.

MEXICO LOST THIS GAME FOR YOU GUYS..
they were down 1 man and still had most of the posession.

the penalty was a joke, but that’s how the game is played.

then Bravo missed the penalty shot.
so it would have been 2-2

then he was scared again, and missed a wide open goal..

SCORE 3-2. you would have lost if it was not for their mistakes..

i hope you do well againts holland.
but you will not win..

portugal chokes with the big boys,

Posted from United States

By Dido | June 22nd, 2006 at 1:07 am

Look who is talking!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Luis | June 22nd, 2006 at 1:24 am

Aaah! Welcome back Louie. It just wasn’t the same without you. Your taunts are exactly why our team, and our fans, are focused one game at a time. We may go out, but we’ll fight till the end.

I hope you come back often until July 9th to poke fun at us. Nothing would make me happier.
If we choke then on that last day, I’ll be the first to buy you a beer.

Força Portugal!

Posted from United States

By Luis | June 22nd, 2006 at 2:59 am

I’m starting to think Louie is a closet PT fan trying to keep us on our toes.

Posted from United States

By eric | June 22nd, 2006 at 3:11 am

I am quite surprise that scolari picked postiga ahead of nuno gomes.Anyway i felt that postiga din really make an impact in that match.

Posted from Singapore

By eric | June 22nd, 2006 at 3:40 am

i was quite shocked when i saw postiga playing instead of nuno gomes from da start.i feel that gomes was a more established international player and should have started.anyway postiga din really make an imapact upfront at all.

Posted from Singapore

By bobby | June 22nd, 2006 at 4:44 am

hmm..its seems that gomes is da third choice striker..pretty dissapointed with that..i felt postiga was a little light weight upfront in da 60 over mins he played.

Posted from Singapore

By Luis | June 22nd, 2006 at 5:26 am

Bobby,
I agree Postiga is much better when he comes off the bench.

Posted from United States

By Hisham | June 22nd, 2006 at 10:43 am

Great job Portugal! Simao looked shaky against angola but GREAT job by him, I think he deserves a start against Holland.

Postiga did not impress me at all, and the set piece defending was worse than Englands! But, when Valente and Costinha come back for Holland I’m sure that will change.

This is your year Portugal

Posted from United Arab Emirates

By Pedro P | June 22nd, 2006 at 11:47 am

We got the job done BUT…

MEX’s goal was a huge defense mistake: their striker was letf alone in a corner in the 2nd poste. And it happen more than once.

Louie, the penalty against MEX was not a joke. The only thing you can argue about is wether or not Miguel should have gotten a 2nd yellow (I think he should, but happy he didn’t).

Still against 10 men, Portugal’s attack was ridiculously weak.

Hurray for the result efficiency, for Maniche (who never gives up and has been having a super pace) and Simao, for the help between players (that kinda saved what could but didn’t happen).

Portugal’s slightly weaker than 2 years ago and Holland is stronger now. I truelly hope something changes next sunday.

Anyway, 9 points in 3 games

FORCA PORTUGAL!

Posted from Netherlands

By Kelvin | June 22nd, 2006 at 6:25 pm

Portugal slightly weaker than 2 years ago? Where the hell do you come up with something like that? If anything, we are much stronger than 2 years ago, being unbeaten in qualifying and winning all three matches of the group stages in the World Cup.

Posted from Canada

By Dcruzzin | June 24th, 2006 at 4:43 am

Comment to Louie. Congratulations….. on Angola losing against Iran! Ha ha…

Posted from United States

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