My point being that a card happy ref would clamp down on Pepe and Alves early and hopefully the game would not degenerate to that point. If we are getting hacked, our target becomes Ronaldo.
And you are assuming Portugal will not play in the same way as it did against Mexico, I take it? Mexico was Portugal's last WC send off match. I'd assume that 9 of those 11 will start the first game, maybe 10 of those 11. Why is it likely that Portugal will change drastically over the next 7 days? I don't guess I understand the point of your post.
Pretty sure Portugal is going to approach the 2nd game of the group stage in the World Cup a bit differently than a meaningless moneygrab game at Foxboro.
Because it is a friendly. Historically, friendlies before the World Cup say very little about a team's performance during it.
I am not assuming anything. I know the team very well. Here are the differences. André Almeida played as a LB. He is a highly controversial player that many claim he should not be on the team, in place of Antunes from Málaga. The starter is Coentrão, who in this game played as an AM, a role that he never performed consistently in his life. Only Mourinho did that experiment when he was at Real Madrid. So, you will have Coentrão as a LB, who is a much better player than Almeida. This was just an experiment to test a different alternative given the injured players. In the midfield, you will have William Carvalho instead of Veloso, who is a much better DM, or at least you will have Meireles instead of Coentrão. This should improve the quality of passing and defending, since Portugal's midfield was overrun by Mexico in the second half, until he replaced Coentrão for Amorim. Then, of course you will likely have Ronaldo instead of Vieirinha. These three differences change the dynamics of the team significantly, since it's not just about players but tactics as well. Other differences may be Eduardo for Patrício, Éder for Postiga, and Neto for Pepe, although these three should not make a significant difference, since the ones that played showed good fitness and relative quality.
Agree 100% although I like the versatility of Andre Almeida he is basically a CDM that can play as a fullback if called upon I did like his confidence as the game grew he played cautiously which Portugal seldom do so that is why opinion as to why he was chosen. Postigas play can really cause havoc the USMNT or any opponent can underestimate him but his strength has always been his movement off the ball and his ability to final on a dime his goal tally for Portugal as the only striker in a 4-3-3 is remarkable he isn't the fastest and the strongest but he never was even when he was a 19 year old at Porto but his intelligence of the ball is a sight to behold Anyway cheers to a great game in Manaus we are all friends at bigsoccer
Ronaldo practicing, expected to appear in Portugal's friendly vs. Ireland. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...81ef3a-ef19-11e3-9ebc-2ee6f81ed217_story.html
Some thoughts based on what I've read since the start of the Mexico match: - As has been stated by a couple of the Portuguese here, Friday night's match featured a lot of playing around with the lineup/formation by Paulo Bento's standards. The fact that Portugal managed to keep a clean sheet without either Meireles or Carvalho playing as a DM, Coentrao playing as an AM rather than LB, Neto (who is trustworthy yet inexperienced) rather than Pepe, etc., is indicative of Portugal's ability to defend as a team. - Eduardo is actually the backup, though he was excellent as the starter in 2010. I love how aggressive he's been in these two friendlies and wouldn't mind seeing him rather than Rui Patricio, who is good but has been known to follow in the footsteps of Portugal GKs who get caught on their heels on crosses/corners. For what it's worth, Portugal can definitely be scored on from set pieces in spite of having Alves and Pepe in there. - Someone mentioned Portugal being a failure at every tournament since 1966. Obviously, they are an idiot and haven't watched a tournament since 1998. - In the same vein, Portugal in qualifying is not Portugal in tournament play. Also, even the best teams are all over the map when it comes to friendlies. If a team is playing incredibly well or absolutely terrible then you can put stock in their form. Portugal posting a cumulative 1-0 scoreline from matches against Greece and Mexico without a handful of regulars doesn't mean the United States should be Portugal in two weeks. - However...the U.S. can absolutely beat Portugal. The fact of the matter is that it'll have to take advantage of its chances because I just don't think it'll have a wealth of opportunities. Portugal's defense has been extremely sound in tournament play for years, and when that happens from coach to coach and as the defense goes through player transitions then it points to something greater than just a good run by one grouping. I'm not terribly confident in Portugal's ability to consistently score goals from match to match, but I'm confident the defense can hold any side scoreless for 90-120 minutes... -...but at what cost. Portugal was sickeningly conservative in 2010 and goes that route against the likes of Spain and Germany, for obvious reasons. I wouldn't be surprised if Portugal opened its attack up a little more than usual against Germany. When the two opened Euro 2012 against each other, Portugal didn't totally go into a shell against Germany and was unlucky to not get a point. Still, it wasn't like Portugal was flying down the field every 30 seconds or dominating possession (I think it was along the lines of 55:45 for Germany). If they go defensive against the scary teams, can they score? If they open it up against the U.S. and Ghana, will they suffer defensively? Lately, the answers have been no and yes (but not enough for it to cost them). - Things did get a bit physical in the Mexico match, but Alves and Pepe have been very good at avoiding bad cards. Say what you will about Pepe, but the guy gets a bad rap based on the one horrible incident a few years ago and his tendency to overact. He's still world class and is no worse than plenty of other defenders when it comes to fouls and cards. In fact, he was tied for 34th in total cards in La Liga this season (nine yellows). That said, I am worried about his fitness. He's supposed to be ready to go, and he managed to play well in 2010 when he went straight from a six-moth injury layoff to playing against Brazil so I'm not worried about form, but he missed the CL final and hasn't played since. Until I see him in a match I'll worry about his health. - The Battle of Nuremburg. I wouldn't expect a bunch of U.S. fans to go watch that whole match, but the Netherlands was the instigator from the start. Portugal lowered itself to the level of the Dutch, so it became a disaster. Still, Portugal was not solely at fault or even the worst of the two teams. The English commentary really sided with the Dutch for some reason, but I'll let everyone decide individually why that was the case. - The first matchday in Group G is enormous. The U.S. and Ghana must both feel they need three points while a draw between Germany and Portugal would leave the door open for everyone. I think Portugal should advance and I feel they will. That said, the only group result that would legitimately surprise me would have Ghana and the U.S. advancing. Other than that, I just don't have a great feel. Say what you want about Portugal based on friendlies or qualifiers, it knows how to get results come tournament time. It's not crazy at all to think the U.S. can get a result against Portugal and advance, but it is preposterous to expect that. Portugal has made it out group play at five straight tournaments, including two consecutive Groups of Death. The U.S. is 1-3-3 at the last two World Cups (albeit with different rosters) and will have inexperienced players at key spots. - Portugal's striker situation is typical. If it had a legit scorer up front the team would be downright scary. Instead it has Postiga, who knows where to be but seems like he's 57, is sinfully slow and can't do anything with the ball if he's not shooting; Almeida, who looks the part but makes the net look two feet tall and wide; and Eder, who has the athleticism and size but who is inexperienced, returning from injury and lacking the finishing touch. If Portugal could combine Postiga's awareness and experience with Eder's youth and athleticism...this would be a video game. - Cristiano is superhuman. He'll be ready to go and look fitter than he has any right to be. Also, if Portugal goes deep it'll be thanks in part to William Carvalho. There's a reason the big clubs are drooling over the guy. It's a shame Bruma is injured because he too is legit. - Coentrao certainly isn't perfect, but he is an excellent player. RB Joao Pereira is vulnerable, though. He can get up the field quickly, but I've seen him decimated by quality wingers before. Also, he's tiny.
The more I think about it, the Portugal match may be as much of a must-win for the US as Ghana. For the sake of simplicity, let's assume Germany wins the group. Some of you are suggesting the US can't do any better than draw against Portugal, and if that proves to be the case, then the second-place finisher will probably come down to goal differential. Even if Germany beats Portugal in the opener, it's hard to imagine it'd be by a big margin. So... Just for the sake of an example, here's one plausible point and GD scenario after two games: Germany - 6 pts, +4 USA - 4 pts, +1 Portugal - 1 pt, -2 Ghana 0 pts, -3 Would Ghana mail it in and not offer much effort against Portugal since they couldn't advance? If so, we'd be forced to get a result against Germany to ensure we advance. In that scenario, if Portugal won 3-0 against Ghana and USA lost 1-0 to Germany, we'd be out. I'm starting to think anything other than a Portugal loss in their opener would be bad news for the US. It means they wouldn't attack desperately in their second game (and leave themselves open to counters) and it also means Germany would be going balls out for all three group stage games since advancement wouldn't be assured until after all three group stage games are finished. The group could obviously finish in a number of different ways, but this one seems the most likely to me.
Starting pretty much a reserve side. Patricio, coentrao, moutinho, and Ronaldo the only starters..maybe William as well. Should be a good run out.
Meireles has trained for 2 days..I don't expect much in the midfield from him...maybe a few more aimless passes, shots into orbit, and laboured play than usual
Don't know who "Someone" is, but I mentioned that Portugal had failed to impress in the WC ever since 1966. From Eusebio, through Figo and the Geração de Ouro , right up to Cristiano Ronaldo, the best Portugal could do was a Round of 16 --ending with what is perhaps the most pathetic offensive display a Round of 16 team has ever produced. Now, if it was my post that you "read", and you confused the phrase "In the World Cup" with "Every Tournament", then glasses, gentle reader, are your much needed friend. If it was not my post that you read, and "Someone" did in fact make a claim for Portuguese futility in every tournament, then please do continue to enjoy your artfully refined ravings. De qualquer forma, Portugal tem quase meio século de miséria na Copa Mundial. Sim, Senhor?
dude relax...this is just a friendlty with both Ireland and Portugal missing plauers..the field is already dying..Ronaldo 1 v 1 and slips with grass erupting around him
Sorry, I should have quoted your exact words: "In the WC it has been since 1966 since 'they performed' in other than a vastly embarrassing fashion..." Vastly embarrassing fashion? Apparently you have incredibly high standards. You're obviously on top of your game when it comes to critical analysis, though... Portugal made it to the semifinals in 2006 with Figo and Cristiano playing together, but you apparently missed that tournament; 2010 was certainly some ugly soccer, but I think you can blame Carlos for the tactics at the very least. Either way, vastly embarrassing is a tremendous exaggeration. I may have missed your World Cup qualifier before, but it's obvious I did not miss your general stance. Glad we could clear that up.
and he was ********ing late in the challenge and still carried through, in a friendly right before the world cup. we don't need another montolovio situation