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Maniche and Nuno Gomes are back!

August 26th, 2009 | By: Miguel | 26 Comments »

Queiroz has spoken… or should I say listed. Well we now finally know who will get us through the next 2 victorious games.

As expected Liedson got his name on the list. All though he isn’t in top form he sure as hell can score goals so I expect us to see just that. 33 Year old Nuno Gomes is a bit of a surprise… if you didn’t know Hugo Almeida is injured. He isn’t first choice at Benfica but his presence in the team I firmly believe goes beyond the role of a mere player. He has played at all the big stages, knows the state-of-mind required to succeed and as such will help to build confidence to the less… confident. That said, unless he does something really eye-catching during training I don’t think he will get any playing time.

Very happy to see Maniche in there. He’s in the starting eleven at FC Koln and should have his competitive edge back. If you want a well balanced attacking midfield I think he’s a must. If he and Deco can sync-up to work their magic there is hope after all.

Can’t believe Veloso got called. I’ve seen most of Sporting’s games and he still doesn’t impress except for the goal he scored against Fiorentina.

Without further delay:

Goal-keepers:
Beto (FC Porto)
Eduardo (SC Braga)
Rui Patrício (Sporting CP)

Defense:
Bosingwa (Chelsea FC)
Bruno Alves (FC Porto)
José Castro (RC Deportivo)
Miguel (Valencia CF)
Pepe (Real Madrid CF)
Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC)
Rolando (FC Porto)

Midfield:
Deco (Chelsea FC)
Duda (Sevilla FC)
João Moutinho (Sporting CP)
Maniche (FC Koln)
Miguel Veloso (Sporting CP)
Raúl Meireles (FC Porto)
Tiago (Juventus FC)

Offense:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF)
Liedson (Sporting CP)
Nani (Manchester Utd)
Nuno Gomes (SL Benfica)
Simão Sabrosa (Atlético Madrid)

We are in third with 9 points together with Sweden. Denmark leads with 16 points followed by Hungary with 13. All have 4 games left to play. Though scenario.

On the 5th of September we face Denmark in Copenhagen and Sweden flies to Budapeste to face Hungary. 4 Days later we give Hungary a call and Sweden gets it easy against Malta.

For us the math is simple: win both or say goodbye to the 2010 World-cup.

My line-up for the first game:

Eduardo
Bosingwa — Bruno Alves — Ricardo Carvalho — Duda
Maniche — Deco — Tiago
Nani — Ronaldo — Simão Sabrosa

If this doesn’t do it nothing will.

Let’s do this. 2 Wins. 6 Points. Simple stuff.

FORÇA PORTUGAL!!!!

Tags: Hugo Almeida, Liedson, Maniche, Nuno Gomes, Portugal, Queiroz, Veloso, World Cup 2010

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 26 comments.

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By joe | August 27th, 2009 at 12:11 am

(msudzi) cod smells a bit better than the sweat coming off your hairy back,or the stench from your mouth because you talk nothing but shit.

By Seth | August 27th, 2009 at 2:22 am

Ignore the troll.

I like your line-up, Miguel. Soooooooooo glad that Maniche is back! I’m a big fan of his

And can we stop calling Meireles up. He’s frustrating to watch.

2 Wins. 6 Points. FORÇA PORTUGAL!!!!

By Miguel | August 27th, 2009 at 3:35 am

That makes 2 big fans Seth
Queiroz has used Meireles in every game so far. I sadly expect he will start over Maniche or Tiago. He plays very well for Porto, with some amazing goals, so I think he deservs the call but personally I don’t think he contributes anything to the game. The Portuguese press (even those associated with SLB or SCP) have often praised him and considered him the best National player on the pitch. Go figure.

Posted from Portugal

By Hungary who? | August 27th, 2009 at 12:33 pm

Sorry msudzy. Who wants to see Hungary? Who are you again? Haha

Posted from United States

By Christian | August 28th, 2009 at 8:02 am

Ignore the troll….

Happy with the callups. Surprised Jose Castro got the call. I can’t necessarily think of someone else they could’ve called up at the moment, but still a surprise jose castro got the call. My lineup for the Denmark Game in a diamond midfield formation (Going right to left):

Eduardo
Bosingwa-Carvalho-Alves-Rolando
Pepe
Tiago-Simao
Deco
Ronaldo-Liedson

The subs I’d like to see come in (obviously would be different if were down 2 or up 2, but regardless I’d like to see these guys play)
Nuno Gomes for Liedson, Veloso for Rolando, and Maniche for Tiago

Posted from United States

By Miguel | August 29th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

Do I need new lenses or am I seeing 4 center backs in your lineup Christian?
Rolando has never played that position at Porto (not 100% sure though, I think they tried Pedro Emanuel a game or two) and Pepe only did “trinco” for the Selecção (not at RM or FCP) and wasn’t all that brilliant at it. Veloso has openly stated he doesn’t like that role and even came in conflict last season with Paulo Bento over it so subbing Rolando for Veloso… Pepe for Veloso is more likely. The diamond midfield formation does seem interesting.
On another note: Carvalho, Bosingwa and Deco all played in Chelsea’s starting eleven with a 3-0 win over Burnley. Good news our key players are all fit and getting play-time.

Posted from Portugal

By Christian | August 31st, 2009 at 10:12 am

Whoops, I’ve been confusing Rolando with Duda for quite some for some reason. Don’t mind me…So yes, Duda instead of Rolando. As for Pepe, my first choice for the “trinco” would be Meira. But he hasn’t been on the squad in ages, so that’s not going to happen. I think Maniche or Meireles would be the best suited due to them being physical and are much better passers than Pepe. I’m not a big fan of Meireles myself, but I have no idea who else can fill the trinco role. As for the diamond formation, Deco has been flourishing in this formation at Chelsea and I think it suits Portugal very well. We will see what Quieroz pulls out of his hat on Saturday.

Posted from United States

By Toodles | August 31st, 2009 at 4:02 pm

If we win every game (of the 4) we have 21 points…21 points surely is enough for qualification itself or at least a place in the play offs. Queiroz with this squad is telling people that the time for experiments is over…

Here’s my starting XI:

Eduardo
Miguel – B.Alves – Carvalho – Bosingwa
Pepe
Deco Maniche Simao
Ronaldo/Nani – Liedson.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Toodles | August 31st, 2009 at 9:37 pm

This is looking good… Nuno Gomes, Liedson & Ronaldo all scored this week.

Deco, Bosingwa and Carvalho are playng regular first team football at Chelsea.
Nani’s performances have also been very good these part couple of weeks.
Tiago was also tremendous with Juve this past week against Roma, all of his passes were smooth and all got to their target.
….in other words

Forca Portugal!!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Miguel | September 1st, 2009 at 7:45 am

No doubt Toodles!
Looking at the most likely to start against Denmark we finally see a line-up of first choices at club-level. All already showing solid performances. I’ve got a good feeling about the next two games.

Posted from Portugal

By fares | September 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 pm

hope portugal will lose the next two games ( or the game against danemark at least ) because they don’t deserve to be in the worldcup and could be out then completely..

By Miguel | September 2nd, 2009 at 6:26 pm

Portuguese press have Liedson partnering with CR and Pepe as trinco. Taking into account statements from the players and Queiroz. It seems things are shaping up and we are definitely on the right track. Beating Holland and England time and again wasn’t that long ago. Can easily be done again. Easily.

Posted from Portugal

By Toodles | September 2nd, 2009 at 9:16 pm

Absolutely, Miguel.

Though personally having Liedson from the beginning might be a gamble, as nobody knows how he will fit in in the overall picture, wherehas someone like Nuno Gomes has tremendous teamwork with most of the players…

I’d use Liedson as an early 2nd half sub.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Frank | September 3rd, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Eduardo
Bosingwa-Pepe-Carvalho-Duda
Meireless-Tiago
Simao-Deco-Ronaldo
Nuno Gomes

Glad to see Maniche is back. He is my all-time favorite player. I say give meireless the start since he is in better form than maniche. Most likely Maniche can be subbed in for meireless at the beginning of the 2nd half since meireless is really only effective for the first 45 minutes. Once maniche is back in form he can start.

Also Give Nuno Gomes the start and see how he does. A half time sub or 60 minute sub would be good for him if he doesn’t perform greatly. Introduce Liedson into the game as Nuno Gomes’s sub.

Pepe and Bruno Alves are interchangable. Either one can go in as long as carvalho is in. He is the calm patient sweeper and needs to be there as the ultimate last man. Hope people like my idea

Posted from United States

By Deetown | September 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Maniche is a good choice! He is doing well at FC Cologne right now – best player so far in this team. He has the skills to feed the attackers with passes they need to score and win! Nuno Gomez again? It sounds like a scratched record to me……when the shit comes up they reactivate the old guys…..isn´t there any young talented striker within Portugal or over the world? I can´t believe it….so many creative players but no good striker….

Posted from Germany

By Miguel | September 3rd, 2009 at 3:47 pm

Frank, for the same reason you leave Maniche out of the starting lineup I would leave Nuno Gomes and start with Liedson in your 4-2-3-1 formation. In fact it looks very much like a 4-3-3 if you look at it this way:
Eduardo
Bosingwa-Pepe-Carvalho-Duda
Meireles-Deco-Tiago
Simao-Nuno Gomes-Ronaldo

Posted from Portugal

By Miguel | September 3rd, 2009 at 4:31 pm

After careful consideration I’m going to chance 2 things in my line-up:
Pepe for Tiago: we need a bit more height in our defensive midfield and Pepe can be useful in the box for corner kicks and free kicks.
Liedson for Nani changing CR to the wing: Liedson as striker and CR as winger is a more “natural” setup. One that will probably increase CR’s game efficiency.
So I now favor:

Eduardo
Bosingwa-Alves-Carvalho-Duda
Pepe
Maniche-Deco
Ronaldo – Liedson – Simão

If you put Ronaldo, Alves, Carvalho and Pepe in the box for corners and free kicks what are the odds of finding the ball at the back of the net?

Posted from Portugal

By Nelson | September 5th, 2009 at 6:26 am

I am looking forward to watching the game today…Hope Portugal wins!!

Forca Portugal

By João | September 5th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

And it’s over.

By fares | September 5th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

portugal 0-1 down to danes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By fares | September 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

oh oh oh ohhhhhhhh go go go danemark!!!

By Leon | September 5th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

All went down hill after the most over rated player of all time was made captain. Portu-gone!!!

By Christian | September 5th, 2009 at 3:04 pm

Should I be mad we didn’t win? Or happy we are still alive (granted an extreme outside shot)?

By farse | September 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pm

PORTU-GONE!!!!!! (the way is being paved to win the worldcup)

By Miguel | September 5th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

It seems indeed FIFA’s refereeing is paving the way for Holland to win the next world-cup. The only team that could possibly have them p&$s their pants is smoothly being denied the chance to shove another victory down their throat. No hard feelings do. I think Holland has average odds. But my money is on Spain.

Posted from Portugal

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