World Cup 2026 Warmup Friendlies; Chile(June 6) & Nigeria(June 10)

You enjoyed the way he played today?

 

I mean if Ronny took a lil extra time on his finishing today I think he has a brace.. Hopefully he can shake the dust off by next week or so. Maybe play Felix or General Raamos up front v Congo or Uzbekistan..

 

With the way Cancelo played for Barcelona, he can play on the left until Mendes is 100%. Nunes on the right who’s been excellent for Man City.
Ronaldo….its heartbreaking watching him play now after all he’s done, embrace that impact sub role. I’d honestly start Felix as a false 9 ( he actually looks fit and motivated) with Trincao on the right and Leao on the left, Chico as the impact lifewire sub where he excels.

Inacio can’t start, had to be Veiga or Araujo unless Pepe shocks us all and returns ( he probably could, what a legend )

 

Imagine the scenes if Pepe returns somehow..

 

I do actually think Felix might be the best option. A False 9 or whatever. Don't really trust Ronaldo or Ramos rn. Ronaldo's positioning is still great but what was he doing with that first missed shot.

 

At this point it might be the best option... Spain doesn't have a pure #9, neither does PSG, they prefer playing Oyarzabal or Dembele as a false 9

 

that's a good point his timing on those runs was actually insane. kinda going unnoticed.

 

Once again, CB partner for Dias, our manager and striker are our biggest weaknesses.

Mendes better not be injured for long damn it

 

The whole "Martinez ruined the Golden Belgium Generation" angle is frigging tiring. Guy knocked out a better Brazil team in a World Cup and barely lost to a better France team. They literally did as well as they could be expected to do.

Dude is a good national team coach. Not perfect, but he's good.

 

I agree he is good but has not proved to be great/deserving of two golden generations so far.
So I somewhat understand his mixed reputation. He could change that this year.

lost to Italy in 2020 his team failed to score from open play.
was grouped in 2022
his Portugal failed to score a single goal in two knockout games in 2024.
Considering the talent he has had at his disposal from 2018-2024 he has had mixed results. Mainly his teams have not been able to score many goals when it matters.
2018 they played well but lost 1-0 to France.
His teams have managed 0 goals against France between Belgium and Portugal.

Outside that Brazil game it's hard to point to a significant international knockout victory he has achieved in 10 years of managing two top class golden generations. The other is beating Portugal 1-0 in 2021 which probably got him the job. He does not deserve the hate he gets but his results considering his talent has been mixed.

 

That same team he coached also beat Portugal in the RO16.. Romar isn’t bad, I think this is the tournament he changes a lot of people’s view and Portugal can make a deep run..

 

@TorontoCalabria in our discussion yesterday on center backs I can’t believe we forgot Jorge Andrade. World class and very underrated at his peak.

 

Please tell me you did not forget Fernando Meira?

 

I did not. He was also very good but not world class. Jorge Andrade was actually world class at his peak.

 

Yes exactly there were a lot more centrebacks at that time for whatever reason.
The fullbacks now are certainly better.

even Bosingwa while a RB could play CB at a high level and was a very good defender not just someone that could get forward.

Carvalho Couto Meira Andrade Bosingwa Ferreira Valente and eventually a young Pepe by 2007.
its funny that 2000 and 2007 are nearly the same distance as 2020 and 2026 but yeah I would say that generation had something extra at the back in terms of depth.

Ws euro 2008 Portugals best defence on paper?

---Ferriera---Pepe--Carvalho--Bosingwa

 

There’s more money in being midfielder and forwards ….

 

Hmmm that is a good question. Paulo Ferreira was a bit of an enigma. He was great for Porto 2002-2004, genuinely, but he lost his position to Miguel at Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006, where was Miguel was actually super good. But actually, yes, I think so. Both Bosingwa and Pepe made the Euro Team of the Tournament and Carvalho is Carvalho. Ferreira was always a bit weak though for Portugal but each of those players' peaks I would have to say yes, and maybe by some distance actually.

 

Miguel was a very interesting player. Really good for Portugal but never really hit the heights at club level, although he had a respectable career. I actually remember being at Benfica vs. Lazio at the Bessa in 2003 and he was the only player that was doing well.

Edit: He played 200+ games for Valencia when they were still a big club performance. Very respectable. Great player, especially in how he stepped up. Very underrated actually.

 

And when we look at Euro 2008 and remember that Figo and Rui Costa retired from the national team at 35/36 years old and compare that to Messi Ronaldo Modric Dzeko and many others playing well past that now what a lineup on paper that could have been!


----Quaresma----Ronaldo--------Figo
------------Rui-Costa-------Deco------
----------------------Mierelies
Bosingwa---Pepe---Carvalho---Ferreria
---------------------Ricardo

 

It's a shame about the injuries. He was class. Portugal never got to see him and Carvalho both fit for an extended period. He missed WC 2006 right? Huge loss.

 

Yes, they played together at Euro 2004 but he was injured at WC 2006 and Fernando Meira replaced him. Did very well too.

 

Will never happen, but I agree, he probably would be at this point