ibra8 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Nickname (s): Selecção das Quinas, Os NavegadoresAssociation: Federação Portuguesa de FutebolHead Coach: Paulo BentoAsst Coach: Leonel Pontes João ArosoCaptain: Cristiano RonaldoMost caps: Luís Figo (127)Top Scorer: Pauleta (47)Fifa Ranking: 8 Uefa Euro 2012 squad Age Caps Goals Club[b]GK[/b]Ruí Patricio 24 3 0 Sporting Clube de PortugalEduardo 29 26 0 Sport Lisboa e Benfica (loan)Beto 30 1 0 CFR Cluj (loan)[b]Defenders[/b]Miguel Lopes 25 0 0 Sporting Clube de Braga (loan)João Pereira 28 5 0 ValenciaFábio Coentrão 24 14 0 Real MadridRicardo Costa 31 10 0 ValenciaRolando 26 10 0 Futebol Clube do PortoBruno Alves 30 35 5 Zenit St PetersburgPepe 29 35 2 Real Madrid[b]Midfielders[/b]Custódio 29 0 0 Sporting Clube de BragaHugo Viana 30 11 2 Sporting Clube de BragaRúben Micael 25 1 2 Real Zaragoza (loan)Miguel Veloso 26 21 2 GenoaJoão Moutinho 25 33 1 Futebol Clube do PortoRaul Meireles 29 46 8 Chelsea[b]Forwards[/b]Nélson Oliveira 20 0 0 Sport Lisboa e BenficaVarela 27 5 1 Futebol Clube do PortoQuaresma 28 30 3 BesiktasHugo Almeida 28 36 12 BesiktasHélder Postiga 29 40 15 Real ZaragozaNani 25 44 9 Manchester UnitedCristiano Ronaldo 27 87 32 Real Madrid European Championship Record Year Round GP W D L GS GA 1960 - 1964 - 1968 - 1972 - 1976 - 1980 - 1984 Semis 4 1 2 1 4 4 1988 - 1992 - 1996 Quarter-finals 4 2 1 1 5 2 2000 Semis 5 4 0 1 10 4 2004 Final 6 3 1 2 8 6 2008 Quarter-finals 4 2 0 2 7 6 2012 Qualified Total 6/13 23 12 4 7 34 22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Stuart Wilson Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Ozil plays for Germany mate! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 As a Brazilian, I hope our tuga friends win this tournament. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
football_master_94 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Ozil plays for Germany mate!It's clearly Hugo Viana Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy_T Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 I doubt ronaldo will even score, and if he does it will be a penalty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Man11 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 It's clearly Hugo Viana Ruben Micael Ronaldo is overdue a good tournament tbf! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Stuart Wilson Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 It's clearly Hugo Viana How could I forget that legend! Ronaldo is going to have to do the business and more for Portugal to do anything, Portugal look pretty poor in midfield nowadays. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Isn't it a bit worrying that Nélson Oliveira aside, there are no U23 players in Portugal's squad? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggressive minor Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Yes- but only what 3 outfield players 30+? So tournament wise that seems fine! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Yes- but only what 3 outfield players 30+?So tournament wise that seems fine! Yes, for this tournament it's fine, and probably for the World Cup too. But it will be a big issue in long term. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted May 31, 2012 Author Share Posted May 31, 2012 Ozil plays for Germany mate! The guy that assists Ronaldo at Real madrid? Maybe in 2016:p I doubt ronaldo will even score, and if he does it will be a penalty. With all the focus on him, I'd say you're probably right. His best chances to score will be from set pieces. I think it will give Nani an opportunity to shine. Isn't it a bit worrying that Nélson Oliveira aside, there are no U23 players in Portugal's squad? It's the result of our clubs being filled with foreigners. We have some good young players, but they're to raw to play in this euro. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 I always like Viana. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 2, 2012 Author Share Posted June 2, 2012 Curious to see how we will do against Turkey tonight and if there's gonna be any surprise in the starting XI. Would like to see Custódio in the midfield. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedrik Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I hope to see some good football from Portugal. Like their team, this in contrast with many other Dutch people who seriously have a very big unhealthy hatred against the Portugease team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I hope to see some good football from Portugal. Like their team, this in contrast with many other Dutch people who seriously have a very big unhealthy hatred against the Portugease team. I would be surprised if Portugal plays good football this tournament, this is not a creative team like in the recent past. The midfielders were clearly choose with counter-attack in mind, none of them is very creative except Hugo Viana, who probably won't play much. Matches against Germany and Netherlands will be simple, there will be space to play. What they can do with it is another question. Denmark will be tougher, they will give Portugal the initiative and the lack of creativity will show if they can't score soon. Plus, the strikers are crap (except Oliveira). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
el sid Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Deco > * , Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astafjevs Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Curious to see how we will do against Turkey tonight and if there's gonna be any surprise in the starting XI.Would like to see Custódio in the midfield. I might watch this. Never get much of a chance to watch Portugal in between international tournaments - interesting to see what they're like now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Standard liege! Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Portugal 0-1 Turkey Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjericho Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I'm afraid Portugal will be sent home with no glory after just 3 dreadful matches... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 2, 2012 Author Share Posted June 2, 2012 Well, I certainly wasn't expecting a defeat against Turkey. The result is a bit deceiving though. We had more ball possession, more shots and more goal opportunities (Hugo Almeida:mad:). They scored in pretty much every shot made and their 3rd goal is just stupid. But our midfield can't be Veloso-Meireles-Moutinho, there's no creativity. Hugo Viana has to play and André Martins should've been called. It's so frustrating to watch Ronaldo sometimes. What the hell did he try to do after the elastico. [video=youtube;-fFPneSiA2k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fFPneSiA2k&feature=related Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy_T Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 looks like he can't even do penalties now, you're ****ed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Cristiano Ronaldo to flop (again). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Stand around with his hands on his hops shaking his head at how his team mates aren't as good as him? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Slightly off-topic, but having read the opening post, can any Portuguese tell me why Portugal had only managed to qualify once for the championships up until 1996?? Really surprised to read that stat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjericho Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 We weren't that good back then. We had some great players but I guess the overall quality wasn't very good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Why not though? Benfica etc were well established then. Is this often discussed amongst Portuguese fans? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Why not though? Benfica etc were well established then. Is this often discussed amongst Portuguese fans? Less teams in the tournament, so harder to qualify. Inside wars between players from Sporting-Benfica-Porto (now most play in other countries). General inferiority complex against big teams. This only really started to change in the 90's. Also the conditions outside the big clubs were very poor and the standard level of coaching was low (this had a complete turnaround in the last 30 years or so, we now have some of the best coaches in the world). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikeee Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Less teams in the tournament, so harder to qualify.Inside wars between players from Sporting-Benfica-Porto (now most play in other countries). General inferiority complex against big teams. This only really started to change in the 90's. Also the conditions outside the big clubs were very poor and the standard level of coaching was low (this had a complete turnaround in the last 30 years or so, we now have some of the best coaches in the world). Yep, to the second point I'd add that only 1 or 2 players at best played outside Portugal, so they weren't used to the top level rhythm of the top leagues. I didn't watch yesterday's match with much attention but if we're going to have a huge amount of bad luck, then better have it now than in the tournament. The Pepe owngoal was amazing. Hugo Almeida surely yesterday killed any minor chance he had of starting any game? Unbelievable poor game from him. In terms of midfield it's a shame, Meireles isn't world class but would be very handy for any national team in the world, Moutinho has been superb ever since moving for Porto and at this point would deserve more international recognition, Veloso has incredibly accurate feet, but it's all a very industrious midfield lacking creativity. We could get away with it given the burden of attack won't be on us for the Germany and Holland games, and this midfield is much better suited for contention than construction, however I don't feel the team is solid enough defensively to play merely on the break. Which is a little weird given some of the few positions where we genuinely have world class players is at the back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjericho Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 One of the problems is that none of the 3 midfielders fielded yestarday has defensive characteristics. Veloso plays in the DM slot but he's more of a deep playmaker than a ball winner. And without a 'pure' DM against Germany and Netherlands, I don't like our odds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 were the fans yesterday saying boo or boo-urns? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikeee Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 One of the problems is that none of the 3 midfielders fielded yestarday has defensive characteristics. Veloso plays in the DM slot but he's more of a deep playmaker than a ball winner. And without a 'pure' DM against Germany and Netherlands, I don't like our odds. That is true, I like Veloso for his impressive technical ability but he can't hold the defensive part of a midfield by himself, I'd rather have Meireles as a DM. I think he's pretty solid there actually even if his best position is slightly further ahead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Yes, Meireles should be the DM. We beat a top Spain side 4-0 (5-0) easily with him playing there, 4 goals on the counter. Only difference from that team to now was Bosingwa and Carlos Martins really. If we did it at that time, we can do it again. Ruben Micael can play instead of Carlos, he's not very good but at least thinks fast and presses more than Veloso. (Manuel Fernandes should have been called, dammit) Everyone is tipping Germany and Holland to beat us easily, but I don't think it will be a walk in the park. Portugal just can't beat a defensive team if they can't score in the first 20 minutes. Against Denmark Hugo Viana has to start. He was called just because of that match. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 3, 2012 Author Share Posted June 3, 2012 Yes, Meireles should be the DM. We beat a top Spain side 4-0 (5-0) easily with him playing there, 4 goals on the counter. Only difference from that team to now was Bosingwa and Carlos Martins really. If we did it at that time, we can do it again. Ruben Micael can play instead of Carlos, he's not very good but at least thinks fast and presses more than Veloso. (Manuel Fernandes should have been called, dammit) Everyone is tipping Germany and Holland to beat us easily, but I don't think it will be a walk in the park. Portugal just can't beat a defensive team if they can't score in the first 20 minutes. Against Denmark Hugo Viana has to start. He was called just because of that match. I don't know about Fernandes because I don't watch Besiktas, but André Martins should be there. Replacing Ruben Micael. Eight years ago we were discussing how Rui Costa and Deco could coexist in the same XI. Now we don't have anyone that even comes close to those 2:( Against Germany my midfield would be Moutinho-Custódio-Meireles. We'll need a true dm for that game and Custódio is the only we've got. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 I don't know about Fernandes because I don't watch Besiktas, but André Martins should be there. André who? Who's that guy? Let's not exaggerate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 4, 2012 Author Share Posted June 4, 2012 Yes, André Martins. I'd rather have him than the "zidane da Madeira". Like a few others in the 23, I don't see what he adds to the squad. Fernandes, as I said, I don't know because I don't pay attention to the turkish league. I'm not gonna pick him just because he has a "bigger" name. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjericho Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 André Martins has great potential but I'm not sure he could step up to the level of a Euro Cup. It's great to invest in young players but if you realistically want to be one of the best teams you need to have an experienced group. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 André Martins may have potential, but he has done nothing to deserve to be anywhere near the NT. 2 or 3 decent matches in his career? Come on... Nélson Oliveira at least almost won de U-20 World Cup by himself. Even the likes of Adrien Silva should be ahead of him. Regarding Manuel Fernandes, we all know he is very good, and he was important for Besiktas this year, thats all we need to know. When his head is focused, he is a superb player. And there's also Paulo Machado. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 4, 2012 Author Share Posted June 4, 2012 He's had more than 2/3 good games this season. It's my opinion, I think he could be useful. But regardless of my opinion, the point is that I think there isn't anyone capable of shaking things from the midfield. A player capable of carrying the ball forward into the opponent's defense. That makes us predictable. Our opponents know that most danger will come from Nani and Ronaldo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
drogba Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Who is likely to start as the main striker? Postiga surely? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikeee Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Who is likely to start as the main striker? Postiga surely? Yes, 90% certain. I have a feeling Oliveira might surprise and start however. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
drogba Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Thanks! I saw he was 270/1 to be top goalscorer and for a striker who is expected to start this is too high even though I'm sure he won't score many, if any. Paulo Ferreira should be Portugal's right back still btw Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Thanks! I saw he was 270/1 to be top goalscorer and for a striker who is expected to start this is too high even though I'm sure he won't score many, if any. Paulo Ferreira should be Portugal's right back still btw He retired from the NT, too soon, like many others did, Simão, Tiago, Deco etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjericho Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 I have a feeling Oliveira might surprise and start however.Highly doubtful. Although I wouldn't mind that at all. Postiga will never be a top striker and Nélson might very well be, so I'd get him some time in the Euro just for him to gain experience, and I'm sure he would not compromise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 8, 2012 Author Share Posted June 8, 2012 Paulo Bento said that Nani is his only doubt for tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjericho Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 Paulo Bento said that Nani is his only doubt for tomorrow.Is that a good thing? That means Hugo Viana, Nélson Oliveira and Custódio will have a very slim chance of playing during the tournament... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Share Posted June 9, 2012 Bento was never going to change the XI used in the qualification stage.. But from those 3, I think that Custódio has a good chance of "stealing" Veloso´s place. Nani recovered and is fit to play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjericho Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 Well, not that bad. They were lucky with Pepe's shot and Varela should have scored that chance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Share Posted June 9, 2012 That midfield... Hugo Viana should have replaced Meireles in the 2nd half to offer some creativity in the middle. Good game from Coentrão, Pepe and Bruno A. Also liked Varela's 15m, despite that poor shot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebirds4life Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 Agreed that they needed someone in the hole , quite the gap between central midfield and Postiga, Nani fairly dissapointing and should have got Ronaldo attacking Boateng far more often, Varela should have dummied and gone to the left of the sliding defender + Neuer. Played well though, Coentrao looked good, shame the fluidity of the game was ruined by the ref's constant whistle. Think Portugal will progress now, massive match vs Dutch likely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Share Posted June 9, 2012 We have to beat Denmark first. And that's clearly not going to be an easy game. But if we get the 3 points against the danish, a draw vs Holland will be enough. Because Germany will most likely finish this group with 9 points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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