He's just a worldclass player, capable of hiding the ball from his opponents and putting in another touch on the ball when defenders are thinking they have a legit attempt to steal it thus fouling him. And how precious those fouls are cause he can shoot freekicks so so well from so so far away. He also has ball control like no one right now except Ronaldinho. Good luck Deco in Barcelona.
Interesting observation. I liked Deco's freekick in the final...landed in row Z. He dives everywhere and complains about everything. he doesnt even have half of the skill that Ronaldinho has and doesn't do enough for his team. you will disagree but to rate Deco as "a worldclass player, capable of hiding the ball from his opponents" is just silly. he is a good player, but not worldclass. He takes silly dives (multiple ones each match for portugal) and doesnt finish chances (the breakaway against the netherlands in the last minute) Deco is not worldclass.
Yeah right...you don´t perform at the highest level in the euro after playing more than 100 games in the last 2 seasons, winning almost everything, and you are a crap player. No world class player can play in Portugal, because if he is an world class player he have to play in the EPL... probably in Liverpool, a great team thats true, but with no world class players thats for sure, or maybe not at your eyes Owen, Gerrard and now Cissé are world class players...
What, exactly, did Deco do to help Portugal in the 6 games of the Euro 2004 tournament? OK, he completed some passes. But what goals did he score? What goals did he set up? What dangerous opportunities was he a part of? Not very many ... fewer than Maniche or Ronaldo or Figo, that's for sure. He was OK, don't get me wrong, but if he doesn't play better than that he won't make a big impact on La Liga.
For these same reasons Deco gained my respects. He was the thermometer for Portugal. Pace up .. pace down. In case you didn't analize the games ... he was a real nitemare on the opponents, moreso as being the first one in the pressing of the Portugal midfield. He is not Zidane ... but IMO can certainly help Barza win La Liga (Note: I said help, not win it on his own).
Fair enough. Maybe I'm looking for the wrong things with Deco. The first time I saw him, he struck me as an offensive genius. I must say, I didn't see that this tournament. Almost more of a holding midfielder than a #10. Perhaps I should evaluate him in that light.
Why would you even go on about Liverpool or the EPL? Im not trying to argue that. All i am saying is that other players played tons of games too (like in the EPL ) and still performed better this tournament. Deco did not have a good tournament. Explain to me why you think he had a good tournament? Deco's strategy was to dribble INTO an opponent, flop down, grab the ball and roll around for a while, then look like a deer in the headlights if he didn't get the call. how is that beneficial to the team? His freekicks were useless. I think he has a lot of talent, but don't give that crap about 100 games in the last two season ****************! Frank Lampard played just as many if not more games and performed at a much higher level this tournament! And for the record, Gerrard is worldclass!
Quite frankly, I found Deco to be a big disappointment in the Final. He dove, he whined and he took lousy free kicks. Not one, but several. When he's on, he pretty impressive and enjoyable to watch. BUt when he whines and bitches and flops, it is just boring and exhasperating. Congrats to the Greeks. They deserved to win. WHile I will agree it was not the most exciting brand of soccer, they should be especially lauded for sticking to their game plan all the way to the championship. For Portugal fans, I am very sad, as my wife is Brazilian of Portuguese decent. But quite frankly, I think the future bodes well for Deco and the rest of the young guys like Carvalho, Ronaldo et al. As for Figo and the rest of the supposed remnant of the golden generation, I am very sad. But that is life, and sports imitates life, and they will move on and be ok.
Portugal vs Greece -» entered in the 2nd half and the diference was visible. Portugal started to atack a lot, and even more with ronaldo too. Portugal vs Russia -» for me was man of the match together with maniche, but maniche scored 1 goal so.. Still great performance. Portugal vs Spain -» considered the man of the match. Great ball distribution, dangerous passes, dribles, all over the pitch. Securing the ball in the last 10m. Portugal vs England -» the turnout. Had to play as a right defender until the late 120, both atacking and defending the whole match. We won the match but lost Deco, utterly tired after this match. Semi finals -» Tired Final -» Tired If Scolari took Deco off at least once or twice to rest him for a while... But no, beside the 100 games in the last 2 seasons, playing all the championship, all the cup, all the 12 uefa cup matches, and all the 13 champions league matches.