Portugal vs. Espanha: Battle of Iberia - Round of 16 - 29/06/10

BTW have you noticed how tough our side of the bracket ended up like? Look at the other side. Brazil will likely face the Dutch as the only real test.

 

We have world class defenders. We can do it, I'm just worried this game will end in a 0-0 draw, we go to penalties and they beat us on penalties considering their amazing strikers.

 

Eduardo is better at penalties than Casillas believe it or not.

and id say if we go to penalties we all the pressure will be on them
considering they are heavy favourites

 

TBH, I rather face tougher opponents, makes them more ready. Brazil can't take Chile lightly either. Plus, Ingerland will beat Germany. Believe that! You never know.

 

Nothing against Spain, but at least the Selecao will again be playing at sea level. The next match will be tougher because it will be the first time in this WC where they will be playing in altitude. I would guess almost all the other teams have played at least once in altitude (Brasil has played in altitude twice already and their next match will again be in Johannesburg).

 

I watch the PL, La Liga, Serie A and the Liga Sagres every week and again I say that if you stop the supply to Torres, Villa and Iniesta (Xavi), you stop Spain. Yes I realize that any one of those players could produce a moment of magic and score but that is not something you can plan for so there is no point worrying about it. Plus we have our own magic players so it can go both ways

 

We’re winning this one. We’ve somehow became a solid, cynical, Italian style kind of team – just the type of poison Spain has no antidote for. Plus, we have the Man upfront to sentence the game!

RONALDOOOO! OH OH! RONALDO! OH OH OH OH!
Raçudo e Malabarista! Com a bola, tu és um artista!
RONALDOOOOOOOOOOO!*

*Borrowed from Braga chant for Vandinho!

 

A Spain with Senna is a different one than a Spain with Busquets. This World Cup has shown this. If Portugal retain possession through this game, Spain will be found out.

 

Another thing, with 7 players on a yellow card if we do get past Spain the quarter final matchup with Paraguai/Japan we would likely be missing alot of players.

 

In full agreement. I think we can manage replacing most on that list for one off games...but not all at the same time.

 

Oh, yeah, and I forgot: Batalha!! Aljubarrota!!

 

the spain press seem to be giving us respect, and the comments on marca Im surprised alot of them are from ppl who say if spain loses they will root for Portugal. complete opposite of what the brasilians seem to think.

but this link is worth a look at. and the mulheres bonitas thread
http://www.marca.com/blogs/el-otro-mundial/2010/06/27/mis-adorables-vecinas-portuguesas.html

WOOOOOOOOO

 

Having Deco on the bench to come on against tired legs evening out his own could be the key to the match.... this is going to be a nerve racking game though.

Spain probing and retaining possesion while Portugal attempting to counter attack.

One can only hope Queiroz plays Ronaldo in his proper position where he can be effective against the lack of any defensivr coverage in Spains midfield(AWOL Senna-there most important player in the Euros) and defense. He better not be upfront alone.

Thats being said, who should start between Almeida and Liedson?

Tiago and Meireles need the games of their lives...wish the Maniche and Costinha of 04 were here now

Pepe vs Mendes, is Pepe ready to go again after another week to gain sharpness? He would be vital in shutting down Xavi/Iniesta....Mendes just doesnt have the raw quality and attributes to do it.

Miguel knows Villa from them being together at Valencia, plus hes quick and when his back is against the wall he always pulls through for Portugal( both games vs Holland in 04/06 where he shut down Robben in full flight)

 

I say go with the exact same lineup as the North Korea game

-------------- Eduardo ------------

Miguel ---Carvalho --- Alves --- Coentrao

---------------- Mendes ------------------

------------ Tiago --- Meireles ------------

Ronaldo --------- Almeida ----------- Simao

 

Don't get me started on this topic... We knew this before Portugal x Brasil game yet we all saw CQ celebrating the 0 - 0 draw like he had won the WC...

 

I agree with most of what you say. And I really, sincerely hope you're right and that we play Ronaldo as a roving winger and have a true striker in there. Because if CQ plays the same setup as against Brasil (with Ronaldo as a "striker") it means that he's playing for a 0-0 draw + PKs. Which would be sickening.

Several of you are emphasizing the fact that Spain is missing Senna. I'm not sure how relevant that is to this game. It's not as if we really have a strong Midfield to explore that supposed "weakness". Not to mention that our counters have sucked balls.
More worrisome is our defensive midfield and RB. Tiago is probably our strongest tackler since Pepe is still recovering fitness and he's not necessarily the quickest in the world. Pedro Mendes and Pepe are a step slow and Meireles is average at best (despite the hilarious news in A Bola that Manchester United is offering 15 million for him!!). Given how well Spain moves the ball, they will finding lanes and then we'll have to pray that Carvalho + Alves play even better than they have to make up for the licking our DMs will take.
The other huge matchup will be Iniesta against our RB. I pray to God it'll be Miguel. If it's PFail or Ricardo Costa then you can forget about it. But even Miguel at this stage of his career... he might have his hands full with Iniesta and Spain's ball movement

A thought/nightmare I had yesterday:

PFail -- Ricardo Costa -- Carvalho -- Alves -- Coentrao
------- Tiago --- Pepe -- Meireles ------ Simao
--------------------Ronaldo

The real reason CQ brought so many CBs to the WC - for this game. He's had this planned all along.

And then I woke up in a cold sweat...

 

I agree but we proved ourselves against the best. If we had lost against brazil by being more open, then the belief might of sank, the defensive we won't CONCEDE siege mentality has given us a belief that would of been better if we had won against Brazil? no because Portugal underestimate 'lower' ranked sides, I have to give this to CQ, we are now a team that can play very offensive and be tight in defense, if we keep in this mould a WC is only a matter of time!

 

We have only one weakness, RB if IF The Boss was there then there would be none.

 

Totally agree. Sure, there are different paths to the cup, and some are less rough than others. But none are easy.

 

I hope that the fact that Pepe, Simao, Ronaldo, Duda, Tiago, and Miguel play in Spain, it will be usefull against them.

 

Our midfield is fine. Our only problem is RB. I'm pretty sure Villa and not iniesta will be up against our RB. Iniesta will be in Coentrao's pocket.

All our midfield needs to do is disrupt Spain's game. I think our physicality will be telling here. I would play Deco since his vision is needed to exploit Spain's lack of Senna.

 

i agree he creates good through balls and is able to just find space up there at times. But if that doesn't happen i would take him off and put Tiago on at the half.

 

Quarters is after this match. So I am technically taking it one game at a time...