Pre-match: Semi-final: Portugal vs Spain - June 27 [R]

I believe we can pull it off.

 

Yes you can, as long your coach doesn't fall into the same defensive trap that other coaches have. Exploit Spains wings and use your speed to get in behind.

 

Yes that's the tactic. Run as fast as you can, control the ball, play fast and secure and score.

 

I'd have to put my money on Spain winning this. Portugal also play a no-striker system and that is with Postiga or Almeida on the pitch

Veloso and Meireles also too outmatched in central midfield. Will be a 1-0 or 2-1 grind.

 

The best player on the pitch will be wearing a white jersey,not a red one.
Will the spaniards lock him down,or will he take his country to the promise land......
Alternatively,the spaniards will put us to sleep again.

 

well, someone should remind him that it's not a Real Madrid jersey, and that Sergio Ramos and Casillas are on the opposite team, otherwise he'll do what Benzema did today...

 

LOL ok dude. Perhaps you haven't watched the Euros yet. 4 posts, 3 goals, total domination.

On topic now,

Can't wait to see what cheating tactics the Spanish will employ or how obvious it will be when Platini get his Spanish boner.

 

I can see it going either way. History is on the Spanish side as they have never lost in a semi-final....However Portugal has had the advantage in head to head as of late including the 4-0 demolishing in Lisbon and Portugal also handed the Spanish their last loss in a Euro. I think the way the Spanish play benefit Portugal. Too close to call in my opinion...one thing is clear, Spain are the clear favorites.

 

Ramos gave away a goal a game for about 5 games at he end of last season, a accident waiting to happen, watch this space.

 

Fully Agreed.

 

I think Portugal will give Spain the biggest challenge. Spain's style of play just fits into Portugal's ideal game.

 

portugal has the advantage in head to head? how so?

 

I could see this going to penalties...
Spain is the favorite, but Portugal is the kind of team that can beat Spain on a good day.

 

Portuguese hopes rely obviously on the counterattack with Ronaldo and Nani, but for that to be a successful strategy it is necessary to finish at least 50% of the chances, which hasn't happened in the previous matches.

I was still sceptical about Spain's performance in this Euro 2012, but from yesterday's match it seems to me that they are not weaker than they were in WC 2010. Toughest match for Portugal until now (the game against Germany was played in different circumstances) and I hope that this will also be true for the Spanish.

 

Spain may have an efficient play system that wins them matches but that does not stop them being boring. The England-Sweden match was far more entertaining than any Spanish match.

 

I can see Portugal causing serious trouble to the title holders, but they will need a top performance over 90 (+x) minutes and can't afford 40 rather weak minutes, as happened against the Czechs.

 

Spain is the clear favorite in this one but i hope Portugal takes it. Spain is boring me to death.

 

We don't, unless he means goals. It's completely tied as of late. We beat you 1-0 in the Euro 2004, you beat us 1-0 in the WC 2010. We beat you 4-0 in a friendly in 2010, you beat us 3-0 in a friendly in 2003.

And before that there have only been draws until 1981 (when we beat you in a friendly).

 

Can we please avoid the name-calling and denigration that started in the last thread? If you truly believe people can find Spain's style of play "boring" just respect the opinion without making snide comments and questioning their reasons or comments. Give respect and get respect, please.

 

I do not mind that much, after all football is all they have left to be proud of at present.

 

This.

And this, in order to go through.

 

Portugal can definitely beat Spain, but we need to be more effective scoring goals... The truth is that we need like 10 shots on target to score a single goal. It has been enough until now, but against Spain it won't be that easy. In addition to that, Casillas is the world's best goalkeeper, so I think that it will be even more difficult. I just hope that he is in a bad day... Then we have another problem, Portugal never seems to keep up with a good performance during the whole game. That's definitely something that we need to accomplish to be in the final, an awesome performance during 90 minutes (or 120 ). In my opinion, the key to win this game is an outstanding performance during the whole game, a good goal scoring efficiency and a solid defence (and also a bit of luck...). Força Portugal!