We been playing like that for some time nooww

Let’s just say we are pretty happy here:) Our team did a really good job, more clear passes and more opportunities than I can remember from any game of ours. Actually it looked like a victory since it began but well. Draw against Portugal is also good. You could honestly have thought Estonians and Portugese had changed their shirts…

Anyway, I hope Estonia will be as good in August when playing against Brasil, too.

Did it end 0-0?

I’ve followed Portugal closely since the 2002 World Cup, but the recent match against Albania was the first WC 2010 qualifier I managed to see here from the States. Portugal’s qualification campaign thus far has been extremely disappointing, but I think we’re simply seeing the main problems that have plagued Portugal for the past few years finally catch up with them, specifically:

(1) the lack of a dependable striker and general inability to score no matter how well the team plays overall

(2) the lack of a natural leader for the team since Figo’s departure (not to mention Scolari’s)

I don’t know much about the new coach, other than his dismal performance thus far. I think the lack of a natural leader on the field, combined with a new coach who doesn’t seem to be taking on a strong leadership position, is hurting Portugal’s chances.

Boa Morte should be dropped from the squad – he didn’t bring anything to the Albania game.

Eduardo looked shaky … or maybe it was just my nerves …

I haven’t been following the players during their club seasons but it sounds like Maniche is out of shape. That’s too bad because he really seems to play well on the national team and I’d like to see him brought back and given a chance.

It’s going to be a long wait until the Denmark game in September!

Def-Mid: Ze Castro – so has he given up on using Pepe in this role? I think he needs to play whomever is going to start here vs. Denmark. Pepe’s positioning and defensive=-mid role play was horrible vs. Albania. He seems to be randomly trying people instead of building toward a preferred starting line-up.

Carvahlo – is he 100% recovered from injury? if not, I do not play him.

As for BoaMorte, I think what he is doing is, he doesn’t want to play a player and give him the offensive mid role where he wouldn’t normally do so, therefore Tiago plays a two way role as he would play if he started, and by default he plays BM in Deco’s role.

And is Fernandes ever going to get a full go at the keeper spot?? Let’s hope they blow away Estonia so that I can feel good about this team for the first time since the game v. Czech Republic last summer.

Beto
Miguel – Ricardo Carvalho – Rolando – Gonçalo Brandão
Zé Castro
Tiago – Boa Morte
Nani – Eliseu – Edinho

Source: http://www.record.pt/noticia.aspx?id=09fa93cb-e6f3-4548-bc3a-d04d9f918586&idCanal=00002452-0000-0000-0000-000000002452

I can’t make any sense of this line-up. Can you?

Possibly one of the best combos we ever had….even if was literally borrowed from Porto.