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World Cup 2010 Qualifier Preview: Portugal v. Denmark

September 9th, 2008 | By: Greg | 31 Comments »

Portugal v. Denmark
Group 1, Matchday 2: September 10, 2008 @ 3:45 PM Eastern, 20:45 Local
Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal
North American Television: Setanta Sports LIVE

Current Group 1 Standings (Brought to you by Wikipedia)

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Portugal	1	1	0	0	4	0	+4	3
Sweden	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Denmark	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Hungary	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Albania	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Malta	1	0	0	1	0	4	−4	0

Preview
The second (and final) qualifying match for this particular International Break sees the boys back home to face off against Denmark in Sporting’s Lisbon-based stadium, the Alvalade. The Danes are coming off a 0-0 draw in Hungary to open their 2010 Qualifying Campaign while we recently defeated Malta 4-0 away to put us top of the table.

However, Denmark, unlike us, have actually won something major before when, in 1992, they hoisted the European Champions trophy aloft. If we win this match, expect any shit talking from the Danish commenters to include a reference to this tournament win from sixteen years ago. If we lose, Queiroz has threatened all the players with punishment that entails brushing Danish Queen Margerethe II’s teeth with their tongues. This guy is SOME KIND of motivator, eh?

Possible, Although Not PROBABLE Portuguesian Primary XI

Nani – Nuno Gomes – Simão
Deco – João Moutinho – Maniche
Antunes – Ricardo Carvalho – Pepe – Bosingwa
Quim

I know that this is the same team that I picked to start against Malta. I also know that Hugo Almeida, Carlos Martins, and Raul Meireles all started for that match instead of Nuno Gomes, João Moutinho, and Maniche, respectively. However, the minimal amount of time I actually got to see that group in action (due to the lovely satellite feed) underwhelmed me to the point that I think against a far superior opponent, Queiroz will go with a group that he feels more comfortable with. That could also mean that Antunes is supplanted by Miguel on the left, although I think Queiroz is gaining serious confidence in the young defender. Seeing as Denmark are somewhat dangerous in the air, starting Almeida to help out on set pieces is also another good possibility.

Key Player
Quim, Goalkeeper – In the last two matches (5-0 Faroe Islands, 4-0 Malta), Quim hasn’t really had to do much other than make sure he doesn’t pass out from sheer boredom. Denmark should be able to give him a decent test and get a few shots on net that may trouble the Benfica net minder. The question remains: will he be up to the task when the free and corner kicks come swinging in yards from his face? Or will he flail wildly and be woefully indecisive as Ricardo was during this past European Championship?

Tactics
It’s early in the qualification stages, so almost everyone is essentially a work in progress at this point. Still, I caught about twenty minutes of the Denmark – Hungary encounter and what I saw was quite a few free kicks and in swingers from the Danes that they were looking to connect one of their big guys’ heads to. They appear to like to go far post so hopefully they won’t catch Quim jumping out prematurely, missing a punch out and then have a free guy waiting to slam it home. Aside from some nice ball movement and skill on the ball by players such as Nicklas Bendtner (gee, an Arsenal guy who’s good on the ball, what a surprise), the defense looked porous at times against the Hungarians. Passes from the wings both on the ground and in the air by Hungary collapsed the center of the Danish defense, causing them confusion as well as a good deal of danger.

To win this match, Portugal will have to play calm, collected, and smart football. As I’ve said a fuckillion times before, when this team starts playing as individuals (Hi, Nani!) they simply dribble and do tricks into a corner where two and three opposing players are happy to collapse on them and end the threat. Portugal’s quality should hold up and hopefully they can improve from offensive set pieces (Ronaldo’s absence has been glaring here) to maybe have a goal from one of them. Wouldn’t that be splendiforous?

Prediction
Hopefully the home crowd can get behind them and provide some decent lung-based assistance for the guys on the field. I’ve watched too many Chop matches (both league and international) where the majority of the fans tend to be content with merely passively taking the contest in rather than losing their voices. I think Denmark will score from a set piece here, but Portugal have some goals in them yet. The sane part of me says 2-1, but he doesn’t get to come out and play much… Portugal 3 – 1 Denmark

Força Portugal!!!!

Tags: Antunes, Carlos Martins, Carlos Queiroz, Cristiano Ronaldo, Denmark, Hugo Almeida, Hungary, João Moutinho, Maniche, Miguel, Nuno Gomes, quim, Raul Meireles, World Cup 2010

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 31 comments.

Read the rest of the comments

By Rikki | September 9th, 2008 at 10:41 pm

^^^^

You’re wrong….. Spain has had a long history of fucking Denmark over.

At any rate, Denmark will either win or draw this game. Agger and Laursen are gradually becoming more comfortable at the back. Look for Tomasson to net a clutch goal early on.

2-2 prediction

By João | September 10th, 2008 at 2:14 am

This will be the first real test, and in the last qualifiers Portugal didn’t do well against the top teams in the group. I’m hoping for a win but I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up in a draw.

Posted from Netherlands

By Christian | September 10th, 2008 at 2:02 pm

anybody know where i can find this online? Either an audio or video stream?

Thanks,
Christian

Posted from United States

By Joe Soares | September 10th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

1-0 portugal at half nice goal by nani

By João | September 10th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

And we’ve lost…

Posted from Netherlands

By Joe Soares | September 10th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

wow nice finish FUCK

By csabber | September 10th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

this was unbelievable. the perfect example, how to loose a match, which was already in the pocket. unbelievable. in the first half they didnt had ANY dangerous shot on goal…we have played beautiful football, and in the second half…no comment. this match is Queiroz’s (and the players’ of course) fault. they shouldnt have stopped playing in the middle of a match.

By João | September 10th, 2008 at 5:02 pm

Portugal had the exact same problem during the European qualifiers:
They were winning against Serbia and Poland at home, and then the opponents scored a last minute goal.

And now the same picture except they scored two goals and we’ve lost. Idiots, mark my words we won’t make it to the world cup.

Posted from Netherlands

By Nelson from nyc | September 10th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

WTF!!!

Posted from United States

By christian | September 10th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

I had some absurdly long, pissed off post but my computer decided to go back on the webpage so that got all cleared off.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I hate these overpaid, underachieving jackasses. Can someone tell them that gams are 90+ minutes? And that when you have that round object at your feet in front of the oppposing goal, is should in between the posts? Not above or around them.

This game could have easily been 3-0, 4-0 before Denmark scored their first goal. Could have, shit, SHOULD HAVE been.

And Quim must have gone to the same school as Ricardo for defending set pieces. And why the hell is Paulo playing again?????? Where the hell was Antunes, or even Miguel.

Lastly, I truly feel terrible for Deco. The guy has been playing out of his mind since the Euro Cup started. Unfortunately the rest of his teammates are too focused on how their hair looks and yelling at each other for mistakes.

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Posted from United States

By Steen | September 10th, 2008 at 5:40 pm

Nice game, Portugal could (should) have won but the moral and the will of the danes were stronger – I guess this will give the danes a boost for the next games, they are looking forward to qualify this time after missing out on the last championships.
I saw the game on live stream and the commentators, the former danish goalkeeper Schmeichel and the former world class player Brian Laudrup commented like this: Portugal had the better players but we (the danes) never gave up and a game last until the referee calls it off – the portuguise team thought they had the 3 points after the 2 – 1 but the danes shifted to a higher gear and used the momentum –
I hope these two teams will share the two qualifying places, I wont guess who might be on top

Posted from Germany

By jan tomas | September 10th, 2008 at 5:42 pm

that was brilliant! portugal are going to struggle to make it to the world cup, har hardy har!!

By tony smith | September 10th, 2008 at 5:45 pm

portugal suck…..

By Steen | September 10th, 2008 at 5:51 pm

By the way, on Danish television they showed that the first portugese goal was on offside by half a meter – but due to the speed in which it was played the referee didnt have a chance to see it – they also admitted that the penalty was ok – though not a brutal penalty but unfortunate.
I would like to see the danes in a world cup final – they are the best when they are the underdogs like today

Posted from Germany

By Sao | September 11th, 2008 at 1:45 am

A well deserved win for the Danes.

The two Portugese goals came after an offside and a, to put it mildly, doubious penalty kick. But then again, bribing referees seems to be the national sport in many suthern countries.

And as usual, Portugal is way overrated. Wat have you actually won in modern football ?

None of the teams in this group will have a chance at reaching anything near the final in South Africa.

Posted from Germany

By Bj | September 11th, 2008 at 2:34 am

Iam so happy that the team will now brush the queens teeth…

HAR HAR!!!

By Thomas | September 11th, 2008 at 3:08 am

3:2! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Go Denmark!

By Dwayne aka Joint | September 11th, 2008 at 3:43 am

HA HA HA HA HA

Christian back all of your players like we do

Who’s laughing now????

Posted from Malta

By Christian | September 11th, 2008 at 7:56 am

Dwayne, you got lost as well. No need to be talking about who is laughing or not laughing.

As for supporting our players, when we are at home, dominate possession, have numerous scoring opportunities ruined by poor finishing, its hard to tell them its okay and that we support them. They are habitual underachievers. Especially when during the Euro Cup they ran a graphic showing that if you combined the salaries of our starting XI we would be the most expensive team in Europe. Our team is great as seperate individuals, hence all the hype surrounding the team and why the Portuguese people get so excited for their games. Honestly, if you look at the talent these players have, Greg’s prediction of a 3-1 victory is not absurd nor was he very off if Portugal simply knew how to finish and/or defend set pieces.

However, they unfortunately still have not learned to play as a team answering the question of Sao from Germany “what has Portugal won in modern football?”

Posted from United States

By ian | September 11th, 2008 at 7:57 am

DENMARKK

Posted from Malta

By Andrew | September 11th, 2008 at 9:27 am

holy balls are you kidding

Posted from United States

By Yourmohter | September 11th, 2008 at 10:17 am

I have klamydia plz send me an e’mail how i get rid of it , or if you want to win 10 000$ send an email to me !

By Nikolaj | September 11th, 2008 at 11:59 am

Both Denmark and Portugal played a great game but i think we Danes deserved the 3 points..

Posted from Denmark

By parry | September 11th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

I think Portugal was the better team against Denmark. Denmark was lucky to get that 3 points.

Posted from Singapore

By marcello | September 11th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

Nah parry, its not luck… the first goal portugal got was off-side, and the second was… maybe a penalty… maybe not. Denmarks 2 first goals had nothing to do with luck, and Portugals misses aren’t “luck” its just them who cant get the ball in… too bad. Denmarks third goal was a lil lucky I admit. Portugal had the better team, but its not always the better team wins, just stop saying its luck everytime a worse team beats one thats better.

Posted from Sweden