Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Hugo Almeida, and Rui Patricio are already out for Sunday’s Group G conflict, and Portugal coach Paolo Bento mentioned one other defender might miss the competition as nicely.
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
June 21, 2014
7:26 PM
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MANAUS, Brazil—Meteorologically talking, Sao Paolo and this metropolis of almost two million within the coronary heart of the Amazon basin couldn’t be extra dissimilar.
It has been cool and overcast and really London-like the previous few days in Sao Paolo, the place the U.S. Soccer Federation arrange its base camp for the 2014 World Cup. The staff arrived in Manaus Friday night time; I arrived early Saturday afternoon.
After I acquired off the airplane at Manaus’ Eduardo Gomes Worldwide Airport, I might really feel the warmth and humidity slam into my face earlier than I used to be two steps down the jetway.
If that is the way it feels once I’m partially indoors, I assumed, how dangerous is it going to be out below the evident solar? How brutal will it’s for the gamers who must run for 90 minutes and throw their our bodies in opposition to each other with World Cup glory on the road?
I used to be writing the story in my head as I walked towards the media bus once I realized I used to be permitting myself to get labored up over nothing. Once more.
Have not we already seen this film? Simply final week a majority of media shops had been obsessing over the potential for rain in Natal, the worry of excessive winds, a waterlogged discipline. Who would profit from monsoon-like situations?
None of it occurred. The climate was nice and the sport was a cracker and it was a complete lot of hand-wringing over nothing.
So here is what I’ve to say in regards to the potential for dangerous climate on Sunday: Who cares?
It might rain. It might not. It is going to be humid. The temperature can be 80-something when the match kicks off at 6 p.m native time. The solar might make an look. There could possibly be rainbows, too, and dancing unicorns. However none of it’s price discussing at this level.
Each groups should take care of the weather. There’s nothing to see right here, people. Let’s transfer alongside.
THE BIGGEST STORY forward of tomorrow’s match is Portugal’s quickly dwindling roster.
Fearsome central defender Pepe is suspended for his rash headbutt within the match in opposition to Germany. Left again Fabio Coentrao and striker Hugo Almeida suffered leg accidents within the Group G opener and can miss the U.S. match as nicely.
After which first-choice goalkeeper Rui Patricio pulled up lame—he is out too.
At the moment, Portugal coach Paolo Bento informed reporters about one other damage concern: “At the moment we have four players who will not be playing tomorrow,” Bento mentioned referring to the above-mentioned athletes. “Secondly, there’s a possibility of having another absence, and I’m talking about Bruno—who will not be training today.”
Bruno Alves, the central defender who performs for Fenerbahce in Turkey and has made 73 appearances for Portugal since 2007, is questionable. That may imply that four-fifths of Portugal’s most well-liked defensive corps—goalkeeper included—might miss the match.
“This group has seen difficult times before and we’ve been able to overcome them,” Bento mentioned. “The players know what they have to do. They know what the opponent does, and we can’t be worried about other things.”
Although he was given the chance to take action, Bento didn’t dismiss the risk posed by america.
“Our competition are very talented, very good,” he mentioned. “They’re aggressive gamers, intense gamers. What we tried to do collectively is analyze the U.S.—how they play, their sturdy factors, their weak factors.
“In the current football, anything can happen. There are no favorites anymore.”
The coach referenced Argentina’s slender 1-0 victory over Iran on Saturday to make his level.
“It’s yet another example. In the current football there are no easy games. Argentina beat Iran at 90 minutes. All games are difficult. We don’t worry about the others. We have to worry about ourselves.”
And a tie, in line with Bento, will not hack it for Portugal.
“Either we win, or we start packing our suitcases.”
John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.
