World Cup 2014
Group G Preview: Loaded Portugal Poses Challenges
FIFA ranks Portugal because the fifth-best workforce on the planet, however the identical squad was 14th as just lately as October. Is it a powerhouse facet or an over-ranked, weak opponent? Noah Davis experiences.
BY
Noah Davis
Posted
December 09, 2013
2:59 PM
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Editor’s Observe: American Soccer Now might be throughout Group G and the complete World Cup expertise from today ahead. We even have early appears to be like at Ghana and Germany prepared for you.
ESSENTIALS
If FIFA used the November 2013 rankings, Portugal, fifth on the time, would have earned a seed. However the squad was simply 14th in October after a string of disappointing outcomes, and it missed out on touchdown within the coveted pot A. Because of this, A Selecção finds itself within the group with the very best common rating. However all isn’t misplaced: Portugal has among the finest gamers on the planet in Actual Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and he has loads of expertise round him together with membership teammates Pepe and Fábio Coentrão, Manchester United’s Nani, and Monaco’s João Moutinho.
Nonetheless, Brazil would possibly characterize the final, finest probability for this era to make its mark in world soccer. It hasn’t been a nasty run—the workforce completed fourth at the latest European championship—but it surely hasn’t received any medals, both. Whereas that is unlikely to occur in 2014, Portugal may get sizzling, Ronaldo may destroy a couple of nets (and various bottles of hair product), and the squad may make a deep run. (You are saying there’s an opportunity…) Greater than seemingly, nonetheless, Portugal will battle with america (6pm, June 22; ESPN) and Ghana for second place in Group G, particularly if it loses to Germany within the first match.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Portugal, drawn into what appeared a straightforward European qualification group, struggled and finally completed second to Russia. The workforce misplaced in Moscow, tied Northern Eire at dwelling in Porto, and drew each legs with Israel—not precisely a dominant exhibiting. Within the playoff in opposition to Sweden, Cristiano Ronaldo (4 objectives) outdid counterpart Zlatan Ibrahimovic (two) and A Selecção was by means of. Nonetheless, the highway to Brazil was harder than it ought to have been.
THE COACH
Paulo Bento took over the workforce after a poor begin to the Euro 2012 qualifying marketing campaign doomed Carlos Queiroz. The 44-year-old Lisbon-born former defensive midfielder, who earned 35 caps for his native nation between 1992 and 2002–he got here on within the 69th minute of the 3-2 loss to the U.S.–led Portugal to a semifinal look within the match and thru its profitable albeit rocky World Cup qualifying marketing campaign. Earlier than taking the highest spot together with his nation, Bento helmed Sporting Clube de Portugal for 4 years, the place he received numerous trophies and earned the nickname “Papa-Taças” (“Cup Eater”). As a participant, Bento was often known as a fiery competitor who sometimes misplaced his head; UEFA suspended him for 5 months for unhealthy habits after a semifinal defeat to Spain on the 2000 Euro.
KEY PLAYERS
A Selecção dwell and die with one man: Cristiano Ronaldo. However its finest participant has struggled to indicate up on the most important levels. He scored a single purpose within the 2006 match–a penalty in opposition to Iran–and his solely tally throughout the 2010 World Cup got here in a 7-0 pasting of North Korea. However maybe the 4 objectives Ronaldo put in over the two-leg playoff in opposition to Sweden sign that the 28-year-old is studying to step up. He has by no means performed in opposition to america, not even in a pleasant.
Portugal, nonetheless, isn’t a one-man assault. Nani will be bother on the wing with blinding tempo and greater than proficient stepovers. The speedster has advanced right into a basic winger, attacking from each flanks. He would not rating that many objectives—simply 14 in 72 matches with Portugal—however he is a beautiful distributor with the imaginative and prescient to see the move and the ability to finish it.
AS Monaco’s Joao Moutinho is a stalwart in central midfield, able to going ahead or defending. He made the most effective 23 at Euro 2008 and performed each minute throughout the 2012 occasion. His companion, the exquisitely tattooed Raul Meireles, provides some chunk to the midfield but additionally has a knack for making a key move right here and there. He can lose his head, nonetheless, and the U.S. could be good to attempt to exploit his occasional psychological lapses.
Elsewhere, Bruno Alves holds down the center of the backline and has a knack for scoring objectives in massive conditions, as he completed with 4 in qualification. At 32, he now not possesses the velocity he as soon as did, however he makes up for the lack of a half step with hard-won understanding and wonderful imaginative and prescient. He and fellow middle again Pepe kind a formidable duo who aren’t afraid to throw their dimension -—and their elbows—round. Even a participant like Jozy Altidore may be an underdog within the battle of physicality.
TACTICS
Portugal prefers enjoying a 4-3-3 however the workforce’s assault is fairly easy: Get the ball to Ronaldo and let him work his magic. He is one of many quickest gamers on the planet, and america central defenders–by no means recognized for his or her velocity–will have to be cautious. Ronaldo can be far too bodily sturdy for a slight fullback like DaMarcus Beasley to deal with. Six-foot-tall Fabian Johnson, or even perhaps the sturdy Eric Lichaj would possibly present higher choices in opposition to the Effectively-Coiffed One.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
Brazil is the fourth straight World Cup Portugal has reached, and the nation has discovered combined success. It did not get out of its group in 2002, however fours later it received three group video games, a spherical of 16 match in opposition to the Netherlands, and a penalty shootout with England earlier than failing to France within the semifinals and Germany within the third-place match. In South Africa, a David Villa purpose despatched Portugal dwelling from the 2010 World Cup after the Spherical of 16. The nation’s best-ever end got here in 1966 when the workforce completed third after dropping to England within the semifinals.
THEY SAID IT
“It is what it is. It’s a tough group, with four good teams that have reasons to believe they all can make it to the next round. Most people probably think Germany are the best team. It’s obvious they could win the whole thing. Our first aim is to get to the knockout stage, and then we’ll take it from there…. I can’t forget that we lost our first match of the 2002 World Cup against the USA. It was a shock to us, that 3-2.” —Bento
“I was sleeping during the World Cup draw.” –Ronaldo
“Portugal had a little bit of trouble coming out of qualifying in Europe but that doesn’t say much because there are so many good teams in Europe. For me, like I said, Ronaldo is the best player in the world right now. He has shown, even when you look at the two games with Sweden, that he has the ability to, in a way unlike any other player in the world, put his team on his shoulders and will them and carry them. We have, for sure, a lot of respect for their team and we know it will be really difficult.” —Michael Bradley
FORECAST
The US seemingly wants a degree in opposition to Portugal if it hopes to advance, and that is an achievable purpose though definitely not a straightforward job. A Selecção will dominate possession, however this is not the Portugal workforce of some years in the past. Include Cristiano and good issues can occur.
What did you suppose once you noticed Portugal on america’ World Cup To Do Checklist? Daunted? Assured? Share your ideas under.
