How is Portugal's DMF? Any that can give Pastore problem? Or even Banega? Not sure if there are in the world that can really bother Banega, but Pastore has shown cracks at times, but when he is on, he is on.
Hey lads, Portugal fan here: Gk: Eduardo hasn't been in great form at Genoa from what I've heard, but he'll likely remain the number 1. DF: This is our greatest strength. In the center, Carvalho and Bruno Alves were dominant during the World Cup, conceding only the 1 goal to Spain, which was the RB's fault. So we'll likely see those 2 in the middle again, with Pepe injured. At LB, Fabio Coentrao is a dynamic threat when he bombs down the flank, but has struggled a bit defensively with Benfica this year; he'll certainly need, and get, support from midfield if Messi pops up on Argentina's right flank. And at RB, Bosingwa was sorely missed during the World Cup, but is back. Hopefully he starts, but Joao Pereira (Sporting) is also a decent option. MF: During the World Cup, we fielded 3 central midfielders since we sorely lack a play-maker like Pastore. This is still the case. We'll likely see both of Raul Meireles and Joao Moutinho start, but neither is a true defensive midfielder or attacking midfielder. Instead, they're both superb 2-way transitional midfielders whose greatest strengths are their ability to dictate the tempo of a match by moving the ball quickly and fluidly from MF to attack. Meireles has been coming on strong for Liverpool, and Moutinho has by far been the best central MF in the Portuguese league. Otherwise, we could see Danny drop MF as the playmaker, but he hasn't excelled for Portugal like he has for Zenit in Russia; we could see Carlos Martins, but he hasn't been playing lately for Benfica; or, we could see Miguel Veloso play as a DM with Moutinho and Meireles ahead of him, but this would essentially be the same problem we had in the WC--3 central midfielders with no attacker. Regardless, Pastore will find it difficult to break this group of guys down, since Moutinho and Meireles are tenacious, hard-working guys with an excellent motor. FW: Neither of Hugo Almeida or Helder Postiga are great strikers, but both are adequate in my opinion, and we should see one of them as a CF instead of Ronaldo. So we'll probably see Nani and Cristiano on the flanks, though Ricardo Quaresma has been in great form for Besiktas as well, and could start if United or Madrid don't want their stars to play in this friendly. With 2 attacking-minded full-backs and these talented forwards, we do present a major threat to Argentina's defense since we can use the entire width of the pitch in our 4-2-3-1 system. However, the lack of a play-making attacking midfielder does negate this threat a bit. --All in all, should be a very fun match!
Chacal - would you say that moutinho is the best/closest option portugal has as a playmaker? doesn't moutinho along with belluschi act as the two attacking mids for FC Porto? i've never rated moutinho as a playmaker like Deco for example, but more like you said as a pure box to box midfielder. thanks for the input - very insightful as usual!
Well the new manager, Paulo Bento, really likes to field a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Moutinho as one of the 2 central-defensive guys. Raul Meireles has been pretty effective for Liverpool lately as a sort of attacking guy, but he is much more effective alongside Moutinho in my opinion. So we'll probably see Danny or Ronaldo act as the playmaker in our system, with all 3 attackers having freedom and mobility behind the lone striker, who will be either Postiga or Almeida. I'll predict this: Eduardo/Patricio Bosingwa-Carvalho-Alves-Coentrao Moutinho-Meireles Nani-Danny-Ronaldo Postiga/Almeida
I'd expect us to line up like this -------------------------------Romero--------------------------------- ----Zabaleta---------Garay-------------Pareja/Milito-------Zanetti------ ---------------------Masche---------Banega--------------------------- ------------------------------Pastore---------------------------------- -----------Messi---------------Milito--------------Di Maria/Lavezzi------ I don't know why Aguero didn't get called up, but Tevez must have not been called up because Man city didn't want to release him (risk him getting injured) cause they are challenging for the title.. and also on ever banega, where has he been for Valencia? i've only seen him come off the bench a couple times this season but haven't seen him start.. what's the deal with that?
Club can not hold players when it is a FIFA schedule date. Batista did not call up Tevez to give him some rest. He has assured many players that are not called now, will likely be called later on. Aguero did not make it, because I am not sure if he is fully fit yet. He is trying out a few new things, and I am for it. Getting tired of seeing the same old faces time in and time again. Time for a bit of a change. We will see Aguero,Tevez at the CA. No worries. As for Banega, he has done aright this season, but he is an important part of the NT team, so he gets called up.
I think it is time for Banega to get to a bigger and better club, he has the class and skill to go somewhere better
Valencia is a pretty massive club who play Champions League football, so where do you propose that he goes?
i would like to say maybe the premeir league where he will have more exposure and i think he would fit in to that league well with the pace and power
I think he means, one of the top 2 teams from England,Spain,Italy. I personally think he is just fine at Valencia. I like to see him and Tino Costa continue to play together and would love to see Tino Costa be apart of the NT down the road.
I personally hate this fascination with the massive clubs. Valencia is a good place for Banega. If anything, more Argentines should join him there and lift the team into more viable contention. That would be a great place for Aguero, in my opinion...If they could afford him.
Hey Mario, Ive checked the directv line up for game day and espn deportes shows futbol espanol primera division. I believe the last friendly was on espn3. Ill try looking around online, and maybe even call directv tommorrow to see what the skinny on this partido is. vamos vamos vamos
That is the strangest thing, when I had looked that day it showed that the match would have been shown. Now I look it says ESPN2 will be carrying Brazil/France. I guess I will also look around to see where they will be showing it.
Ahh thanks.. GOL TV, do not have GOL TV though , but I will catch it one way. p.s. charge up your Iphone
GOLTV? Will Ray Hudson be the commentator? [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS6Np-g_h5w"]YouTube - Ray Hudson - Greatest Soccer Commentator Ever![/ame]
Very interesting challenge ahead. After their qualification problems and change of coach, it seems this Portugal is finding its marks and is typically the teams we struggle against, with very fast counterattacks, leaving our midfielders running behind. Their midfield is rather ordinary, but they have a great defence (apart from Pepe and Carvalho, Coentrao is a formidable talent) and attack, while we have great midfield and attack, with somehow shaky/unproven defence. It will be very interesting to see how we do against them. We need to frustrate them of the ball as much as possible. I hope the referee is EPL-style, because otherwise they will be gaining lots of dangerous FKs out of Masche's tackles to Nani or Ronaldo
If Argentina win it I'd like to see them win it conviencingly, otherwise they will not impress me cause in last few years they have been regularly beating a top team when it comes to friendly (Germany, France 2x, Brazil, Spain)
Of course, I'd hope we win convincingly, but against a strong Portugal side I wouldn't mind a draw or even a defeat provided we show we are building a solid team, we find the connections, etc... After all, friendlies are for that. We need to play with the same hunger and purpose as we showed against Spain.
The game against Spain, I dont know but it was like the players wanted to proof something so badly... like unleashing the anger of that QF lost to the world champion lol... 2 chances 2 goals, 1 blunder, another goal, Spain scored, they answered back. That's actually how Brazil often win a game, you created 3 chances and fail, they created 3 and scored 2.
I disagree, Portugal's strength is their defence and midfield, but what they have lacked, really since the days of Eusabio, is a world class striker.
Yeah and we also really lack a #10/attacking midfielder right now, and haven't been able to find one since Deco retired from the NT following Euro 2008. By the way, I have GolTV, so hopefully Hudson and Schoen will broadcast the match! I like those two.