Transfer news and U-20 World Cup kicks off!!

Result: Portugal v Uruguay 0-0 Colour me surprised if we get through the group stage after last year’s Euro I rather lost hope with this team.

Also the World Cup qualification group draw was last night as well:

GROUP F: Portugal, Russia, Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg

We could have drawn France instead of Russia but still a very difficult opponent. Israel and Northern Ireland are always tough opponents. It’s not going to be easy.

Posted from  Netherlands

About the U-20, yeah, I don’t hold much hope with them, they really seem more like round of 16 material, but even getting out of the group stage should be tricky. Not holding my breath.

About our WC2014 qualifying group, I wouldn’t say it’s a VERY difficult group. Sure it IS difficult, but the draw could have been a lot more tough. Russia’ll be difficult at home and especially away, Israel will be tough away, but at home not so much, Northern Ireland will be difficult away, but we should beat them at home, we MUST beat Azerbaijan and Luxembourg both at home and away.

The one thing I’m most worried about is the beginning of our qualifying, in these three last qualifying campaigns we tend to lose a game in the first games. Guus Hiddink (Russia’s coach) has even brought it up, wanting Russia to play with Portugal as early as possible.

But it’s too early to talk about that, Portugal should be focused on the Euro 2012 campaign.

Posted from  Portugal

Hiddink currently coaches Turkey. Dick Advocaat is currently in charge of Russia, and yes they will be the toughest test in the group, but overall I am pretty happy with where we were drawn.

My mistake, I meant Dick Advocaat.

Posted from  Portugal

U-20 actually manage to win the second match.

@Ivan.
It may not be a very difficult group but we did get the third toughest second and third pot team. Usually you want those teams to be amongst the weakest of their pot.

Posted from  Netherlands

João, actually I’m relieved we have some tough tests to face right in the qualifiers, it gives a better outlook on the quality of our team and reduces complacency from Portugal (except when playing with Azerbaijan and Luxembourg). Not that it’s VERY difficult, if we struggleat the beginning again Portugal will have only himself to blame.

On another subject, at the end of the last year I was starting to think FPF finally had the guts to make us play with top opponents, what with arranging friendlies with Spain, Argentina, Chile and Finland. Are we back to the square one with a game against Luxembourg in a week from now on? -_- Not to mention that we still don’t have a friendly scheduled a few days after the game in Cyprus, and probably won’t have REALLY. Not good as a home game in October against Iceland isn’t really a satisfying warm-up for the final game in Denmark.
There was conversation about Romania wanting to switch Argentina with Portugal on 10th August, but seems it won’t happen, since the luxembourguese would lose lots of money for not playing in Portugal, Algarve (yeah, they’re not going to the beach all together that way ). A shame really, as I would much rather Portugal play in Romania than at home with Luxembourg.

Posted from  Portugal

Does anyone know if this is the last scheduled friendly match until the final match with Denmark? Because if it is that could be a problem. I hope we play a friendly match in September with an above average team to get us ready for Iceland and Denmark in October.

So far yes, the latest scheduled friendly we have is at 10th August against Luxembourg.

Posted from  Portugal

The U20 were already in the round of 16 after the first four games. Since I haven’t seen the games, I can’t say anything, but it’s already better than the travesty of 2007, when they won the first won against NZ 2-0, then lost the next three.

BTW, Portugal’s playing the last group stage, with New Zealand.

Posted from  Portugal

*when they won the first match

And by “The U20 were already in the round of 16 after the first four games.” I meant the first 4 games of the entire GROUP.

Posted from  Portugal

U-21 did won their last game against New Zealand with 1-0 their next opponent is still unknown, at the moment it could be South Korea, Costa Rica/Australia/Ecuador or Croatia/Guatemala.

Let’s hope they avoid Croatia. :p

@Ivan; Like you after Spain and Argentina I hoped they’d face other tough opponents (Netherlands, Germany, Italy etc.) but it’s back to minnows. :<

Posted from  Netherlands

No mention of Nuno Gomes being re-called to the Portugal squad?
I thought there would be some sort of blog update on that.

i hope Portugal’s senior squad faces Germany or Holland in a friendly, whom to me play the best teamwork football in Europe (we already kicked Spain’s ass)… we need to keep playing on a consistent level.

Posted from  France