[Azzurri1009]

PORTUGAL is the sleeper of WC2002. Korea/Japan is PORTUGAL'S to win. With EURO 2004 in PORTUGAL they look like to add some trophy's to what little they have had. FIGO and RUI COSTA the two most exciting players in th world will lead them far. The only teams that can play with PORTUGAL are FRANCE, ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, and occasionally ITALY. I am the biggest ITALY fan probally in the world, but I will be cheering for PORTUGAL this June. FORZA PORTOGALLO!


CIAO,
IASONO

 

[mutu1875]

Portugal has the abilty to be the best team in the world and they have turned some great performances but im not sure if they are consistant enough to win a major tournment just yet. Id be happily proved wrong.

 

[O Glorioso]

Well I think Portugal does have what it takes to win a major tournament. They nearly took Euro 2000, two years ago. With the talent Portugal has they can go all the way. Last Wednesday, Portugal proved to the world that they can beat any team in the world, with their 1-1 draw against Brazil. If you want to talk about a team that your not sure of, I'd say Spain.

 

[AMOROSO!]

I don't think Portugal is good enough to win. They do have two world class players in Figo and Rui Costa, but the rest of the team, despite having several top class players like Conceicao, Pauleta and Petit will need to spectacularly overachieve in order to go all the way. They are too dependant on two players, if either Figo or Rui Costa have a bad tournament, Portugal will have major problems. More importantly, while their midfield and attack is good, their defence is very average. As far as I know Oliveira will not be daring enough to drop either Jorge Costa or Fernando Couto in favor of Adrade or Beto, something which will mean a VERY slow defence. Their full backs, are either not quite high calibre players (Frechaut, Rui Jorge) or just average (Abel Xavier).

Portugal is a good team, but I think that even Spain is a more likely winner than them, since their defence is as "good" but they have more talent in midfield and attack.

They are a team with several strong points but also some obvious weaknesses. As soon as they come across a team like Italy, France or Argentina Portugal will be going home.

I could end up eating my words of course, but they'll need to overachieve.

 

[ForçaMadeirense]

I will just say this.

Let be what will be.

I Just hope that this world cup comes.
And provide excitment good quality futebol

And I hope that no team gets screwed by the refs.


It will be great.
ill watch as many game as Possible.

I have pride and faith in OUR NATIONAL TEAM.

IF THEY HAVE ENOUGHT TO BE THE CHAMPIONS THEN THEY WILL SHOW US.

But if the cant beat FRANCE; ARGENTINA OR BRASIL WHEN IT COUNTS THEN THEY ARE NOT CHAMPIONS
IM PROUD NO MATTER WHAT AND WILL SHOW MY COLOURS EVEN IF THEY LOSS EVERY GAME IN THEIR GROUP.

CANT WAIT:::

AND I HOPE YOU END UP EATING YOUR WORLDS. SR. AMOROSO

 

[Tinto]

Excellent sentiments ForçaMadeirense. I could not have expressed it any better. Let's stay away from predictions and just hope that our team plays with all their heart.

Amoroso,

C'mon, Spain is better in the MIDFIELD? That can't be what you meant. I will concede that the strikers positions are arguable, Spain have Tristan and Raul, but with Conceicao, Costa and Figo as our mid-field line there is NO team in the world that can claim superiority. I would go further and claim that line is the best midfield in the world.

 

[AMOROSO!]

A very nice topic to debate.

Portugal starting midfield will look something like this:

.................Petit........Paulo Sousa........
Conceicao........Rui Costa..............Figo

As main back ups I assume it will be Vidigal in the defencive midfielder "trinco" role, Hugo Viana will be the understudy for Sousa, with Nuno Capucho and Joao Pinto as back ups for all three attacking midfield roles. Spain's projected starting midfield should be something like this:

Luis Enrique.....Helguera.....Valeron.....Mendieta

As their main back ups they'll have Joaquin for the right wing, Baraja, Sergio, Albelda and Xavi/Guardiola for the central midfield and De Pedro or the option of moving Luis Enrique on the left.

Now, Spain obviouslt doesn't have a Figo. Thats a big advantage for Portugal. I'd rate Luis Enrique and Conceicao as equals, perhaps giving a slight edge to Luis Enrique due to his very good season while Conceicao has been only average with Inter. Rui Costa and Mendieta are both wonderfull players and I'd rate them of about the same calibre, add to that the fact that both of them have been having absolutely horrible seasons and they cancel its other out in our comparison. Paulo Sousa might have all the experience in the world, but the last few years he is more often injured than not so we can't really expect him to be the Sousa of old. On the other hand, Valeron has been in absolutely fantastic form this season for Deportivo, and has become instrumental both for his team and his country. As for Helguera vs Petit, aka the primarely defencive players in midfield, while I rate Petit a lot, and he is no doubt a class player, he is not as good as Ivan Helguera. To mee, especially considering the difference of formations, these midfields look about equal. On the debth though, can we really question Spain's supremacy? Simao for Portugal and Vicente for Spain will be missing for different reasons, and this naturally takes a great winger for each team. Capucho is a very good player, but so is Joaquin, and only reason we could consider Capucho better is his experience. In central midfield there is no competition. Baraja, Sergio, Albelda and Xavi/Guardiola whip the floor with anyone Portugal can field behind their starters, be that Vidigal, or Costinha/Paulo Bento or Hugo Viana. Joao Pinto is a big gun to have on the bench, but considering the versatility of Luis Enrique Spain can cover the left midfield role adequatly. I'd rate Barbosa and De Pedro about equal (average).

Well, I wasnt much wrong after all. They are about but not equal. I'd still give the edge to Spain because of their debth, while Portugal's only superiority comes from the fact they have Figo. However, keeping in mind that Spain's attack is quite more superior. Although Nuno Gomes and Pauleta are effective strikers, especially with the NT, I think there is no question that Portugal does not posses a striker at the calibre of Raul or Diego Tristan or even Morientes.

I'm not saying Spain will definitely do better than Portugal. Their defence is lame and Camatcho is a moron and they do have a big tendency to choke, but in my opinion, if Spain plays to their full potential, they are have as good chance as everyone to win it, while Portugal will need to overachieve.

Just my opinion.

 

[Tinto]

Pretty thorough analysis, but consider.

Portugal has translated their potential into results more consistently, (recently), then Spain. So really, who will need to perform in better fashion (over achieve) than they have of late - Spain or Portugal?

As well, you're assessment focuses on a man by man comparison, ignoring the dynamic of how these guys perform together , something that Portuguese fans keep pointing out is the real strength of this team.

Of course Spain have as good a chance, but to me it still seems far from self-evident that Spain enjoys any kind of superiority in the mid field.

 

[AMOROSO!]

I don't know how good your coach is, he might be a magician and be able to give an amazing understanding between his players within two or three weeks, but I generally fail to see how a midfield which has AT LEAST one injured player about every time you play can have such a great understanding as you claim. Paulo Sousa is injured all the time, Conceicao and Rui Costa have their fair share of problems too.

I'm not denying the Portuguese midfield is great. But overal, as a team, if Spain performs to their abilities, they can beat ANY team in my opinion, while Portugal, even if they play to their absolutely best, they could have a problem against France or Argentina or Italy, some team which will be able to close down your midfield. Your strikers cant create chances on their own. You're too dependant on Figo and Rui Costa to do the job for you. Thats my view.

Of course, I consider it highly unlikely that Spain will do anything in the WC. Camatcho is an idiot, and hence I don't believe in Spain. However, I just dont think Portugal is good enough to win it.

Surprise me.

 

[Tinto]

Obviously, nothing would give me more pleasure than to surprise you.

I expect to see our boys give their best effort. Everything else being equal, I know that's enough.

This little argument we're having boils down to the fact that you do not believe their best would be enough. I just have to laugh when you insist that Spain - who have done less to merit good expectations as a team - deserve to be thought of more highly. By what logic?

We certainly seemed good enough, with this team, to force the French to a controversial P.K. in Euro 2000.

I already had a discussion like this on the Spanish board, and frankly Spanish claims regarding the greatness of their individual players etc., are growing tiresome. You want to have your cake and eat it too. According to you, Spain is better, but if they lose again this summer we shouldn't interpret that as you being incorrect. No no, it's due to 'other' things. But on the other hand, if Portugal should surprise you, it means something strange happened and they 'over achieved'. C'mon, surely we should be using the same yard stick for both teams?

As much as you want it to be so, Spain is no more deserving of respect then Portugal. Live with it.

 

[Alexandre]

The only problem of Portugal, it's the coach

 

[Tinto]

Yes, he's a bit of a timid traditionalist, but he's got them this far.

 

[O Glorioso]

The thing is that Portugal has all the pressure coming into the World cup. They must perform great or people will say that Euro 2000 was a fluke. We have not yet fully established our selves as super powers. It is vital that Portugal perform well in this upcoming World Cup tournament. On issue of Antonio Oliveira, well come one give the guy some credit. He had to pick up the team after Humberto Coelho resigned. Humberto Coelho was a great coach leading the Portuguese to the semis of Euro 2000 where they fell to France in a golden goal situation. So Antonio Oliveira should get alot of credit for picking up the team and also carrying his team to an undefeated qualification stage.

 

[IL TORO]

I am the biggest ITALY fan probally in the world, but I will be cheering for PORTUGAL this June. FORZA PORTOGALLO!


CIAO,
IASONO

:wth:

 

[Adriano]

Portugal is very capable of winning the World Cup. Euro 2000 showed that they are a great team and they probably should have beaten France in that semi-final.

Like Soccer Star Portugal is under a lot of pressure to perform at the World Cup, but I think they can live up to expectation. I expect Portugal to at least make the Quarter Finals, where they will probably meet Spain. This will be one of the matches of the tournament.

 

[San Siro]

Portugal no doubt have a very good team, specially in midfield with classy players like Figo and Rui (the old Rui, not the current one).
However, for them to aspire to greatness this summer, they will have to be extremely solid at the back, which is clearly their weak point and they must avoid those costly lapses of concentration as they showed at some points in the Euro.

Also, one comment concerning that 1/2 of the last Euro, for anyone who saw the game, in an unbiased manner, i'm tempted to add, Portugal were no where near to beating France. They had one lucky flucky goal, in their first incursion in the French half, and then, put 10 if not 11 players at the back. It was really a one sided match, which looked more like an attack-defence kind of game. The French dominated the game throughout the match and the only reason why Portugal resisted so long was due to Vitor Baia's heroics. If it wasn't for him, the game would have been finished way before the 90 minutes...

Yes, Portugal played a great Euro overall with some world class performances as against England and Germany, but against France, they didn't do a thing, except get one of the luckiest goal ever witnessed at this level.

And finally a side note, this is not to discredit Portugal, at the very opposite; however, seeing some of the posts in this thread, i just felt it needed to "put the dots on the i", as we say...All the best to Portugal this summer as they are a very exciting team to watch. and as always:

ALLEZ LES BLEUS!:star::star:
LE MONDE EST ET SERA BLEU BLANC ROUGE...POUR TRES TRES LONGTEMPS!:star::star:

 

[AMOROSO!]

Also, one comment concerning that 1/2 of the last Euro, for anyone who saw the game, in an unbiased manner, i'm tempted to add, Portugal were no where near to beating France. They had one lucky flucky goal, in their first incursion in the French half, and then, put 10 if not 11 players at the back. It was really a one sided match, which looked more like an attack-defence kind of game. The French dominated the game throughout the match and the only reason why Portugal resisted so long was due to Vitor Baia's heroics. If it wasn't for him, the game would have been finished way before the 90 minutes...

Yes, Portugal played a great Euro overall with some world class performances as against England and Germany, but against France, they didn't do a thing, except get one of the luckiest goal ever witnessed at this level.

Ehhh??????

You do enjoy provocing a storm against you, right Payman? And I love the way you call your personal TWISTED biasm "unbiased manner".

Now, we shall wait hell to break loose once the portuguese people see that post...

 

[IL TORO]

but against France, they didn't do a thing, except get one of the luckiest goal ever witnessed at this level.

Are you crazy? That was one of the best goals I've ever seen, what was so lucky about it? Scoring against the run of play doesn't always mean luck, the Portuguese side made a very good counter-attack leading up to that goal. Shame Nuno Gomes couldn't do some of that stuff with Fiorentina.

And finally a side note, this is not to discredit Portugal, at the very opposite

Sure :rollani: You just wrote-off one of the best moments the Portuguesel NT has had as a fluke.

:dielaugh:

 

[Tinto]

San Siro,

Sadly for you, it is still relatively easy to find many reports of that match. Here's one from the Guardian a British paper. Remember the British had lots of reason to hate Portugal since we helped eject them.

Portugal were entitled to feel unlucky since they had dominated the first half after Nuno Gomes had given them the lead and withstood a strong French recovery once Thierry Henry had brought the scores level early in the second. But their subsequent outburst was disgraceful, whatever the justice of the penalty.

At the same time it was a sad way for any team in this European Championship to die suddenly, least of all the positive, pleasing Portuguese.

For a time last night it really did seem that Figo would upstage Zidane. At the very least Portugal could congratulate themselves on forcing the languid Frenchman to move as quickly as he thinks. Some of Zidane's footwork in the second half was exceptional even by his awesome standards.

Yet France never quite managed to achieve the momentum that had driven them to the last four. Their coach Roger Lemerre left out Youri Djorkaeff to pair Nicolas Anelka and Henry up front and although they eventually conspired to produce a French goal the ploy rarely worked.

Coelho's plan was simple enough: withdraw people behind the ball, use Costinha and Jose Luis Vidigal to close down French ambitions and hope that Figo and Manuel Rui Costa would link up with Nuno Gomes on the break.

Initially Portugal did little more than watch and wait, but in the 18th minute it became clear what they were waiting for. Sergio Conceicao dispossessed a sluggish Deschamps and made a run across the face of the defence before setting up Nuno Gomes for a left-foot shot past Fabien Barthez.

Portugal's football grew in confidence, reacquiring the casual flicks, nudges and backheels that have been their trademarks in Euro 2000. Figo was starting to run the game and France's defenders froze whenever he threatened to run at them. Much of this changed after half-time, mainly because Zidane was playing further forward and within five minutes a touch of pace from Anelka helped level the scores. Looking offside, Anelka beat Vidigal to a pass from Lilian Thuram and switched the ball across to Henry, who shot into the far corner of the net.

After that a semi-final which had lived up to its promise only in patches steadily fragmented. Yet Abel Xavier so nearly won it for Portugal in the 90th minute when he met a free-kick from Figo with a header which Barthez just managed to touch over the bar.

In the end it was Abel Xavier who lost it. What a pity David Trézéguet had not made the contact, from Wiltord's pass, which might have ended the game with a goal that brooked no argument. Euro 2000 lost its rag in the King Baudouin stadium here last night. The first of the semi-finals ended in acriminious controversy after France beat Portugal in sudden-death extra-time with a penalty from Zinedine Zidane awarded on the say-so of a Slovakian linesman.




Doesn't sound to me like France dominated the match. Very unsporting of you to try and describe Nuno's goal as 'fluky' (that's how you spell it by the way). It was a beautiful goal, threaded through by Conceicao, Nuno faked out your defenceman, pivoted, and beat Barthez cleanly.

France is a brilliant team, no doubt. Making ridiculous claims like yours doesn't make them look any better.

 

[Pila]

This is nothing unusual of San_Siro. Most of us have caught on to his "unbiased" comments of the Portuguese NT and its players.