Portugal – Hungary : Match Preview

October, 10, 2009
Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
20:45 Lisbon, London; 15:45 New York

We are at the gates. Hell or heaven lies beyond.

Once again my confidence levels are renewed and I look upon these 24 lads Carlos Queiroz called up, to carry out everybody’s wishes:

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

Defense:
Bosingwa (Chelsea FC)
Bruno Alves (FC Porto)
Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea FC)
César Peixoto (SL Benfica)
Pepe (Real Madrid CF)
Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC)
Rolando (FC Porto)

Midfield:
Deco (Chelsea FC)
Duda (Malaga CF)
João Moutinho (Sporting CP)
Nuno Assis (Vitória SC)
Miguel Veloso (Sporting CP)
Pedro Mendes (Rangers)
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)
Edinho (Malaga CF)

Ronaldo, Bosingwa, Duda and Tiago are injured but apparently recoverable for Saturday’s match (Tiago being the bigger doubt). These injuries also account for the last minute calls of Pedro Mendes and Edinho, both not in Queiroz’s original list. Add to the injured Pepe’s 1 game ban on yellow cards and things might start to look a bit grim.

As usual Queiroz has some surprises on the list such as Paulo Ferreira, Cesar Peixoto, Nuno Assis and Pedro Mendes. I am glad to see Pedro Mendes finally in the squad. He definitely deserves it. A bit skeptical about Paulo Ferreira, Cesar Peixoto and Nuno Assis. Paulo hasn’t played a single minute for Chelsea in the EPL. Did Queiroz watch Chelsea’s reserves game against Wolverhampton Wanderers (Paulo captained the team to a narrow 1-0 win)? Nuno stands out in a sub-average Guimaraes team but I can’t see him even making the bench for the next two games. Perhaps Queiroz just wants to see him kick the ball around during the next few days…

Braga is leading the Portuguese league with an impressive run, 7 victories in 7 games. 2 Players have so far contributed a lot this: Hugo Viana and João Pereira. I would not be as skeptical if CQ had called them up instead.

When Cesar Peixoto was at Porto I really had him picked for the left-back spot of the Selecção. He was playing very well and then suddenly he got injured and was dismissed by Co Adriaanse. He regained his form at Braga after a disappointing attempt at relaunching his career in Spain. Did some above average games but never got the call. Now after playing 3 below average games at Benfica he made it into the nation’s top 24 players ?! I wonder if the “Benfica Stars Fund” has anything to do with it, and if his name will show up there in the near future. Hope not.

Also Quim for Beto. Beto is a fine keeper (perhaps better then Quim) but Quim is first choice at Benfica and sees action every weekend…
In the end none of them really matter for the line-up of the upcoming games. Can’t see Queiroz sub Meireles/Tiago for Mendes/Assis, Bosingwa/Duda for Ferreira/Peixoto or Eduardo for Beto.

Press comments:

Queiroz: “We know our obligations. Two games at home and we will win them.”

Eduardo: “We are confident we will win. We badly need these victories. We’ll have maximum concentration and believe they will happen.”

Simão: “We don’t know what to expect from Hungary. We’ll have to perform well and win.”

Koeman: “We can still qualify fo the 2010 world-cup. It is not an impossible mission, we’ll keep hope alive until the last game.”

Sweden plays Denmark in Copenhagen and the result will be known before our game starts. Let us hope Denmark shows up for the game and hold them at least to a draw. If Sweden wins… they won’t.

If it was up to me:

Eduardo
Bosingwa — Carvalho — Alves — Duda(?)
Meireles
Tiago — Deco
Ronaldo — Liedson — Nani

FORÇA PORTUGAL!!!!