Im glad i didnt pay a dime because i knew this would happen. Watched it live though. Portugal played like shite. Brazil played for their fans Portugal didnt. Its like they werent even here. Should have used subs instead to start they would have played with something to prove. The sub-21 team would have put on a better performance. Sub-21 showing good future for Portugal. Next time if they come around to Foxboro again ill go to their hotel and practice. Its free and you interact with them.
He actually didn't really play like a little bitch yesterday, he was charging defenders constantly and doesn't afraid of taking the beatings that Pepe and Alves we're trying to feed him. He was pretty classy last night actually save that moment early on where he went down literally crying (can't remember who fouled him). If I had a quarter for every time I've thought that Nani would break out in a game... quick feet, tried to slip one nice pass through the middle at the end of the game to I forget who, but other than that, he doesn't seem to have any vision whatsoever. I wonder if there's a chance he can still bloom with MU. João Pereira always impresses me though. Hard worker, great ball in to Meireles, real bull dog on the pitch. With a little more playing time at Madrid, Coentrão could really do some damage with his runs. Our best defender yesterday by far. Sucks that he's rotting on the bench for his club. Veloso, Moutinho are slow, but tend to keep possession well, we need a quick work horse to do the running for those guys. The rest were scrubs.
Agreed. I like Neymar, he constantly gets fouled by players but doesn't let that scare him nor starts whining to the ref. Although given that he's in Barcelona, I imagine they will turn him into a whiner in no time...
I find this dynamic interesting....we are seeing lots of folks in the media proclaiming all these "violent" tackles on Neymar. Cleverly forgetting the fact that he goes to ground awfully easy and has numerous times feigned injury on tackles that didn't happen. I remember the outcry when Ronaldo was perceived to go down to easy.... Now yesterday Neymar took a few hits, but nothing earth shattering. Maybe the Alves elbow was a bit violent but we've seen that a million times in a million games. Overall it was good game to watch as the technical ability of both teams was outstanding. Much better than anything you would see in the MLS or lower level EPL teams. The control these players had on the ball was super. As for the context of the game..nothing new...Portugal played well at times but just too many questions when Ronaldo isn't on the pitch. Moutinho didn't look himself, Veirinha isn't quiet up to the task just yet. And Nani is not ready to take the team on his back. As for the defense...outside backs were pretty good, but Alves should've seen his last game. Besides the "cacetadas" all night the third goal was clearly his fault as he let Jo just slip right past him. I believe a combo of Pepe and Neto would serve the team much better. And we still have an issue up top...
Great experience. I got to meet Eusebio and thanked him for 1966. Poor guy is too old to even say 2 words without having to catch his breath. What an atmosphere at the game too. Incredible. All the players were very nice. I asked Bernard why he didn't go to Porto. He laughed, then got serious (almost upset) and said, "epa, eles nao coloco o oferta." I made a money sign with my hands and said eu precebo. He laughed. Seems like a nice guy who wanted to go to Porto. David Luiz is also one of the coolest guys ever.
At the world cup I think guys like Bruma, Adrien, William Carvalho, and possibly even Rafa from Braga (great playmaker) might be the new blood needed after witnessing this game. Tiago Ilori as well if he gets some playing time at Liverpool. Speed, athleticism, creativity. Nani, Coentrao, Moutinho, Pepe, Bruno Alves were all out of form..and in our team with such a lack of depth when the majority of our core players arnt in form we'll always suffer against top quality opponents like Brazil.
Moutinho and Pepe just didn't want to be there. Pepe is not in beast mode, but he's still competent enough to not worry me. Moutinho was great against N.Ireland, also not worried.
He's a whiner. Big time, and it started at Santos and you could see it last summer in London. And he's a dirty little player. He should have been shown another yellow last night. He's extremely talented but he needs to grow up.
I will give my player for player thoughts in a second but first I just want to commend Scolari and the Brazil team for not punishing us even more even though they could've easily racked up the score like turning on a light switch. After they made it 3-1,they took their foot off the pedal and sat back. I would like to think that they did so to practice their defensive formations (the announcer suspected this) but part of me says that Scolari didn't want to totally embarrass his former employers and a country that he has a close bond with. Kudos Scolari. On to the Match: Bento - I have no idea what he was scribbling down on his little notepad but I'm sure it won't change anything with this team. This buffoon is as stubborn as a mule and nothing will change this. I can't believe how this bum has us defending corners. We let in 3 Corners in a row people, you would think this sorry excuse for a national team coach would address the issue but no. I'm sure he figures corner kick goals are down to luck because that's the way he plays them. Instead of that horrendous zonal marking on corners, it's a no brainer that you must mark the other teams best player in the box (Thiago Silva). You get in front of that player no matter what and make your best effort to reach the ball before he does. I'm not sure if it's the zonal marking that's screwing us up or the fact that Pepe and B/Alves don't know how to defend. Either way, it's up to Bento to address the issue which he hasn't. MARK MY WORDS PEOPLE - IF Portugal reaches the world cup, we will be eliminated from corner kicks or red cards/suspensions to one or more of our players (looking at Postiga, J.Pereira, Pepe, B.Alves). Rui Patricio - Another joke in our long list of jokes that have been the Portuguese GK position. Every time this guy reaches for a corner kick ball in I crinch. Someone please tell him, if you are going for a ball MAKE sure you get it!! Or else, stay in net, damn long neck giraffe. J.Pereira - There is no better RB in the whole Portuguese community than this hot head? really? P.Bento has to earn his money and actually scout for another RB because this guy plays too dirty for my liking first of all. Secondly he gets burned for pace FAR too often. He contributes a good cross or pass now and then but his cons far outweigh his very little pros. Pepe - Not sure what to think but he has been performing well lately for Madrid and the NT bar that giveaway in the first game in Russia that cost us qualification. That's the thing with this guy too is when he messes up you better believe it costs your team the game. (Look at Russia game and Dortmund game last year whicg cost Madrid the Champs League. For me it's Luis Neto al the way, someone who is a BEAST at defending so what if he ain't tall. B.Alves - I like his corner attacking abilities and free kicks (you hear that Nani get the heck out of the way). Defending this guy looks dumbfounded at moments. Pepe and Alves did have an awesome Euro so I guess I'm gonna have to stick it out with these guys. The main problem with our D is our RB and you better believe teams know it. F.Coentrao - I thought he was one of our better players, this guy long with Ronaldo, Moutinho and Pepe always give their all for the team as you can clearly see. Too bad he screwed himself over by joining Madrid (I soon as I heard I knew it was bad news) Mourinho killed his confidence and this year he gets to keep the bench warm which will screw the NT over. R.Meireles - I guess he was alright but are you guys saying he had a good game because he scored the goal? I rather him leave the team tbf. One good game in about 2-3 years? J.Moutinho - This guy is a joy to watch and schooled the Brazilians and a few plays teaching them to respect their forefathers and where the beautiful game truly came from. M.Veloso - uhhhhh has his moments but next please. Nani - one of the most frustrating players you'll ever see (said too often by MAN U fans) and I know exactly what they are talking about. This guy use to have a beast of a shot on him, he really has to work on his shooting everything else is fine I think. Ronaldo - thankful we have him on this team. H.Postiga - Almost singlehandedly lost us qualification with his red. Other than that, this is the best we'll see at ST position folks. (As long as these buffoon coaches) keep picking these randoms instead of getting off their lazy asses and scouting for real talent. N.Oliveira - I've seen enough of this retard already,next please. Forca
I thought Oliveira played a good game. Held the ball up well, distributed...He's gaining confidence too. That's clear. His finishing needs work, but he's only 22. He won't be anything special, but maybe at least another Postiga.
Patricio M.Lopes/Pereira - Ilori - Neto - Coentrao William/Veloso/Pepe Joao Moutinho/Meireles - Josue/Adrien Bruma/Ricardo - Postiga/Eder - Ronaldo Thats the team i would pick, and if you sub Ronaldo or Bruma/Ricardo put Lica or Varela in their place. Would love to see Quaresma again. Also have Ivan Cavallero and Oliveira on the bench.
So it seems like you'd replace every player on the squad save Ronaldo, Moutinho and Pepe. Pereira is one of the few on this squad that can actually keep pace with Ronaldo. He's no Miguel, but he hasn't been on the squad long enough, and for the time he's been here, he's contributed to some important games. After reading your post again, I see it makes little to no sense so I'm just gonna stop here.
I would agree with Moutinho, and add M. Veloso too. Vieirinha and N. Oliveira were awful too. Nani ? busted. I thought the ball possession was OK, but there is need to be more assertive coming out of the defensive area, some of those long balls were just aimless shots to the corners that not even CR would catch if he was in the game. Gotta say, the R. Meireles goal was a piece of foxy beauty .
Brazil has clearly gone young and it's working for them. Portugal needs to incorporate some youth with experience if they expect to do anything in the 2024 WC.
I think some of you are going over the deep end after 1 friendly. Granted you can feel this way after the game vs Israel if they lose because right now that is all that matters. Some of the players being brought into the discussion here are just not ready for this stage. Can we stop with the Bruma talk? The kid has played less then 20 games at the senior level. Let's see how he makes out playing regularly in Turkey. As most will see he is nothing special. I could be wrong but this is another Quaresma waiting to happen. Only $ in his head right now.... As for William Carvalho...same thing...let the kid play regularly and then we will see. He looks to be the real deal but we need consistency. I do agree this was a good opportunity for a cap. But let's look at it this way the team played a very physically demanding game against NI in really bad conditions. Flew over 3000 miles and played a game in the early hours of the morning (euro time) yes some of the Brazilians did as well... It wasn't a horrible game...for one thing Portugal exposed how to beat Brazil. They do not defend the flanks well and let in too many dangerous crosses. Nani should've finished one that would've made the game 2-1. All in all under normal circumstances this game is not a mis match.
Late as hell but my write-up from the game... First of all, this was the first game I've been blessed to go see, so win, lose or tie, I was content just to be there. Granted, the price was steep for a FRIENDLY but still, it's not every year you get Portugal coming to the US to play anybody, forget about Brasil. Spent the day in Boston beforehand, what a beautiful city. It was actually a little sad that there was virtually no other fans out during the day, but apparently everyone was tailgating... my friends and I missed the memo where that's what you do at futebol matches apparently... Walking to the stadium after parking was cool, plenty of people honking and chanting, flag waving and all that good stuff. Lots of families that were donning both Portugal/Brazil gear. No program? You charged me 140 for a mediocre seat and then didn't want my 10 bucks for a program I'd love to own? Oh what's that? You never heard of splitting up fans so that you can get more action in a stadium than a lame "Brasil Brasil' or 'Portugal Portugal' chant or a Mexican wave? Oh what's that? You specifically said no vuvuzelas yet let the dumbass bring in two and let him sit within ear shot of me? Screw you Gillette Stadium. Seriously, this could've been SO much better. A minute's silence that was literally 10 seconds? I kinda shrugged it off, I was just there for the game, but it's kind of disrespectful. I don't think a minute's worth of shutting up is asking a whole lot, especially when I would've came to the stadium a lot later if I knew I would have to sit through M. Tello lip-synching and pretending to play the accordion (Seriously, what kind of moron does it take to think that's a wonderfully artistic idea? My God. We get it Tello, you want publicity any time you get it, unfortunately, I just don't like your damn music enough to care to pay for it and I hope to GOD none of my money went to you... but thanks for coming... I guess?) As for the game. Coentrao was pretty much our only defender the first half. Pepe was basically letting them past him, like somehow he was playing his brother in a civil war. Future encounters for Brazil: seriously, just leave him the hell out. Yeah, he feels Portuguese, he learned the anthem, his heart is there... but it wasn't there against Brazil, and you can only guess why. The 'amazing' Neymar goal was totally his fault, he had all the time in the world to hit the ball away. What? You're scared Neymar is going to spend another 5 minutes on the floor? Wait, aren't you just an ear-bite away from being considered Luis Suarez as a defender? So frustrating. Dear Mr. Bento: If Ronaldo's not playing, just forget about the counter-attack unless you're going to seriously bring in some of these younger legs because the only other player we have capable of helping there is Nani, and he just can't command the space in front of him as well as Ronaldo. Instead, rotate the ball and relieve the pressure, boot it up if it's the only option, but we shouldn't be running off on the counter so much, tired ourselves out in search of a scoring chance that was never going to present itself at the end of the run. Rui Patricio gets my full blame for the third goal (if I recall correctly, you know, the one that literally went right in front of him and he seemed to forget that he's supposed to I dunno? Kick it? Drop to the ball and cover it with his body? What are you a pussy? You're one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, fix your game up if you really want to ever leave Sporting and play for one of the big boys.) Nani. I felt bad. After his first shot, I screamed at him to pass the ball please, because with shots like that, we might as well start calling up Quaresma. He had a few good plays and pressured up front very well when we lost the ball. Not his best performance, but he was far from being the worst. Nelson Oliveira, tried, tried, tried but nothing was coming out the right way, our midfield was complete crap, we had ZERO creativity bar Nani, and the same way we can't rely on Ronaldo do to everything, we can't do that with Nani. Amorim-Actually surprised me... almost as much as Bento switching to 3 defenders. Thanks Paulo, I needed the heart attack of thinking we could let it slip to 5-1 somehow. But Amorim played solidly, enough to almost justify giving him a few more runs out there. Lica-SHOULD HAVE COME IN SOONER. This guy was all over the place when he came in. I hadn't had a chance to see him before this but in the few minutes he got I was definitely impressed. We need him to step up and take a place, we need him in our lineup. Everyone else was kind of 'meh.' Bruno Alves gets special bonus points for taking the bad press for one normal game-incident that the Brazilian and Barcelona press felt needed all the attention. I love it. If it was Ronaldo, you'd be hearing all about diving and this and that. I paid 140 to see all these superstars, and let's be honest, the only real one there was Neymar and he spent most of the time on the ground. Oh yeah, save for a pointless 90th minute dribble going nowhere. Yeah, he earned every single piece of 'pain' that he actually felt that night. Sorry, I love watching him play, but watching him on the floor for 5 minutes every 10 minutes is annoying. Ronaldo may have his reputation, but I don't think he spent nearly as much time laying down as this kid. Keypoints, we need better creativity in midfield. We can't even fault our strikers anymore (remember the good old days of hating on Pauleta for screwing up that easy shot? Well we can't blame Nelson Oliveira now because he got no service what-so-ever). All in all, it's not SO bad. I thought we still had certain times where we seemed to have our mojo, and taking into account it was a friendly, they got the important win against N. Ireland, were without an integral piece of the team, had tired legs, have clubs that pay their paychecks and it's just the beginning of the season, we shouldn't be too hard on them here. I'd rather look at the Holland game for evidence that we can still mess with anybody, because the Brazil team is not as good as everyone is hyping it up to be.