In 2012, Germany - Portugal was truly the derby of that European Championship group of death (also including Netherlands and Denmark). It was quite intense, and Portugal performed very well.
But this time, at World Cup 2014, only Germany seemed to have showed up.
And that awful defender pepe, who apparently did not have enough ruining Real Madrid efforts, now started ruining his national team's matches too.
The best thing for Portugal is that they won't have to use such a trojan-horse-of-a-player in their second match, thanks to the red card pepe got from referee Mazic.
It will be better for Portugal without him, I'm sure.
And Portugal, completely ridiculed here by the German overly-persistent way of playing, topped with three goals from pragmatic striker Thomas Muller, will have to get at least four points from the U.S.A. and Ghana matches (and possibly hope for other results to go their way) in order to be sure of advancing from this group.
Why such a contrast from Euro 2012, when Portugal reached the semifinals?
Well, Paulo Bento, their coach, is most definitely doing a bad job coaching this team.
Portugal had an easy qualifying group, but they could not beat russia for top spot. Even with Fabio Capello coaching the team with most of its landmass in Asia, that is just really disappointing for the Portuguese fans.
They did succeed in eliminating Sweden in the play-off tie, yes, but they should not have been in that position in the first place.
Besides pepe, Rui Patricio is another disaster player that Bento insists on using, still. Patricio is the one whom Portuguese supporters might hate for allowing Israel to score a goal, in Portugal, that caused his national team to drop two points that could have theoretically seen Portugal overtake russia in the end.
(I guess Bento did not see the Spain-Netherlands catastrophe, with Casillas at the forefront.)
Oh, and, finally, let's not forget Ronaldo. He did not play too well, either. But he probably has extenuating circumstances, being slightly injured still.
Portugal really needs to shape up from now on. Or they will really and truly ship out, and back home, very soon.
Showing posts with label Portugal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Portugal. Show all posts
Monday, 16 June 2014
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Jesus, Just (Let Him) Go Already!
Why do Portuguese teams hold onto their coaches, like wild carnivorous animals to their prey?
Some are not worth holding onto.
I think Jorge Jesus has failed to win enough trophies at Benfica, many at the last moment, that somebody should just fire him.
Or, if they're too stupid to fire you, Jorge, have some pride, man! Resign! You ain't gonna win shit with Benfica!
(Maybe an insignificant trinket here, an insignificant trinket there... But never a big trophy, like the Liga Sagres. You're done!)
The game, on the first matchday, against Maritimo, was a disaster for Benfica SL.
Not only did they fail to win, but they failed to impress, as well.
And the only goal they scored, to make it 1-1, came after a huge blunder by a Maritimo defender.
With such a lousy start from their best opponent, Porto is going to move ahead very quickly...
Highlights:
Some are not worth holding onto.
I think Jorge Jesus has failed to win enough trophies at Benfica, many at the last moment, that somebody should just fire him.
Or, if they're too stupid to fire you, Jorge, have some pride, man! Resign! You ain't gonna win shit with Benfica!
(Maybe an insignificant trinket here, an insignificant trinket there... But never a big trophy, like the Liga Sagres. You're done!)
The game, on the first matchday, against Maritimo, was a disaster for Benfica SL.
Not only did they fail to win, but they failed to impress, as well.
And the only goal they scored, to make it 1-1, came after a huge blunder by a Maritimo defender.
With such a lousy start from their best opponent, Porto is going to move ahead very quickly...
Highlights:
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Ronaldo's Demon Within
For the previous two matches leading to this encounter, the Portugal team was able to rely on Ronaldo to make its overall effort even better.
But Ronaldo played for the team in both the game against Netherlands and the game against the Czech Republic.
He clearly played for himself, unfortunately for Portugal, in this match.
When that chance came, when Portugal was going forward on the counter-attack and had about two extra attackers than Spain, Ronaldo would have been well-advised to not go for glory right away, but to pick his head up and look for the best option.
Even if he had to shoot, where was that composure from the match against Netherlands, when he tricked the defender? Where was the finesse?
Ronaldo wanted that fourth goal, I'm sure, and that's why he was shooting whenever the opportunity presented itself. (Free kicks, too, which were all wasted because Ronaldo could not even shoot it low enough to keep it on target.)
And yet Portugal played very well. They would have been the more deserving side to win the match, after the 90 minutes.
In extra time, Spain played better, and had 3-4 chances to finish off the Portuguese, but Portugal showed good defending skills, too.
Iniesta, probably, should have scored in extra time, but Patricio did very well to block the experienced Spanish midfielder.
It was all decided on penalties, again, for the second consecutive match.
And there was an even better story, in this one.
Spain won the coin toss, and they decided to take the spot kicks on that side of the field where many Spanish supporters were sitting, behind the goal.
But Xabi Alonso, the first penalty taker, could not beat Patricio. It was looking good for Portugal, much like it had been looking good for England, three days prior.
And then it swung the other way.
Joao Moutinho did even more poorly, and Casillas saved. Still 0-0 between the two sides, after 120 minutes and two penalties.
Iniesta, Pepe and Pique all scored. And, then, Bruno Alves was walking to take his penalty kick. But Nani sprints to catch up to Alves, sends him back, and Nani takes the kick. He scores, but, still, what was that all about?
Sergio Ramos has the next kick, and he decides to do it much like Pirlo. He succeeds.
And now Alves is coming back to take his penalty. (Apparently, Ronaldo is the last taker of the five for Portugal.) He hits the ball with a lot of power, but, just like Ashley Young, the ball comes back out off the crossbar.
This all means, of course, that Fabregas, the next spot-kick taker, just had to score and Spain would win the match.
He does, but not without some emotions. The ball hits the post to the right of Patricio, and then trickles into goal way on the other side, behind the goalkeeper and the goal line, before hitting the net on Patricio's left-hand side to make it clear to the spectators, too, that Spain had won.
Here's how the shootout went:
-- Spain - Alonso - miss - 0-0
-- Portugal - Moutinho - miss - 0-0
-- Spain - Iniesta - goal - 1-0
-- Portugal - Pepe - goal - 1-1
-- Spain - Pique - goal - 2-1
-- Portugal - Nani - goal - 2-2
-- Spain - Ramos - goal - 3-2
-- Portugal - Alves - miss - 3-2
-- Spain - Fabregas - goal - 4-2 (and Portugal's last penalty kick becomes irrelevant)
But Ronaldo played for the team in both the game against Netherlands and the game against the Czech Republic.
He clearly played for himself, unfortunately for Portugal, in this match.
When that chance came, when Portugal was going forward on the counter-attack and had about two extra attackers than Spain, Ronaldo would have been well-advised to not go for glory right away, but to pick his head up and look for the best option.
Even if he had to shoot, where was that composure from the match against Netherlands, when he tricked the defender? Where was the finesse?
Ronaldo wanted that fourth goal, I'm sure, and that's why he was shooting whenever the opportunity presented itself. (Free kicks, too, which were all wasted because Ronaldo could not even shoot it low enough to keep it on target.)
And yet Portugal played very well. They would have been the more deserving side to win the match, after the 90 minutes.
In extra time, Spain played better, and had 3-4 chances to finish off the Portuguese, but Portugal showed good defending skills, too.
Iniesta, probably, should have scored in extra time, but Patricio did very well to block the experienced Spanish midfielder.
It was all decided on penalties, again, for the second consecutive match.
And there was an even better story, in this one.
Spain won the coin toss, and they decided to take the spot kicks on that side of the field where many Spanish supporters were sitting, behind the goal.
But Xabi Alonso, the first penalty taker, could not beat Patricio. It was looking good for Portugal, much like it had been looking good for England, three days prior.
And then it swung the other way.
Joao Moutinho did even more poorly, and Casillas saved. Still 0-0 between the two sides, after 120 minutes and two penalties.
Iniesta, Pepe and Pique all scored. And, then, Bruno Alves was walking to take his penalty kick. But Nani sprints to catch up to Alves, sends him back, and Nani takes the kick. He scores, but, still, what was that all about?
Sergio Ramos has the next kick, and he decides to do it much like Pirlo. He succeeds.
And now Alves is coming back to take his penalty. (Apparently, Ronaldo is the last taker of the five for Portugal.) He hits the ball with a lot of power, but, just like Ashley Young, the ball comes back out off the crossbar.
This all means, of course, that Fabregas, the next spot-kick taker, just had to score and Spain would win the match.
He does, but not without some emotions. The ball hits the post to the right of Patricio, and then trickles into goal way on the other side, behind the goalkeeper and the goal line, before hitting the net on Patricio's left-hand side to make it clear to the spectators, too, that Spain had won.
Here's how the shootout went:
-- Spain - Alonso - miss - 0-0
-- Portugal - Moutinho - miss - 0-0
-- Spain - Iniesta - goal - 1-0
-- Portugal - Pepe - goal - 1-1
-- Spain - Pique - goal - 2-1
-- Portugal - Nani - goal - 2-2
-- Spain - Ramos - goal - 3-2
-- Portugal - Alves - miss - 3-2
-- Spain - Fabregas - goal - 4-2 (and Portugal's last penalty kick becomes irrelevant)
Thursday, 21 June 2012
0 Shots on Goal
Looking back at this match quarter-final match, you could see why the Czech Republic players were thumped 1-4 in their opening fixture.
They were very lucky not to concede quickly against Portugal, here.
Portugal was always pressing harder, and the Czech response was very weak by comparison.
Before scoring (in the 80th minute), Ronaldo hit the post twice. (I'm sure he's the player who hit the woodwork the most times at this tournament.) First, he did it in first-half injury time, when he made a couple of Czech defenders look like amateurs with his turn and then fired past Cech, and the second time was with a free-kick shot, early in the second half.
The goal was somehow unexpected, though, because the defender who was initially in front of Ronaldo, at the start of the cross by Moutinho, seemed to just stop and allow the striker to re-position himself in front, to be able to head the ball towards goal. It was truly that difference of class that separates winners from losers.
And, just like in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, Petr Cech again allows a goal from a headed effort that bounces in off the turf. But this one was a much more powerful header, and one can't really blame Cech.
But, unfortunately for him, it seemed impossible to even imagine the Czechs coming back from a deficit, because they always played for the draw. And, indeed, they could not do anything to tie the score after falling behind.
Even Jiracek was incapable of coming up with something worthy of praise, before or after.
Not even one shot on goal by the Czech Republic. There's no way you can expect to advance with that kind of low attack productivity.
Portugal is the deserving first semifinalist.
Highlights:
They were very lucky not to concede quickly against Portugal, here.
Portugal was always pressing harder, and the Czech response was very weak by comparison.
Before scoring (in the 80th minute), Ronaldo hit the post twice. (I'm sure he's the player who hit the woodwork the most times at this tournament.) First, he did it in first-half injury time, when he made a couple of Czech defenders look like amateurs with his turn and then fired past Cech, and the second time was with a free-kick shot, early in the second half.
The goal was somehow unexpected, though, because the defender who was initially in front of Ronaldo, at the start of the cross by Moutinho, seemed to just stop and allow the striker to re-position himself in front, to be able to head the ball towards goal. It was truly that difference of class that separates winners from losers.
And, just like in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, Petr Cech again allows a goal from a headed effort that bounces in off the turf. But this one was a much more powerful header, and one can't really blame Cech.
But, unfortunately for him, it seemed impossible to even imagine the Czechs coming back from a deficit, because they always played for the draw. And, indeed, they could not do anything to tie the score after falling behind.
Even Jiracek was incapable of coming up with something worthy of praise, before or after.
Not even one shot on goal by the Czech Republic. There's no way you can expect to advance with that kind of low attack productivity.
Portugal is the deserving first semifinalist.
Highlights:
Sunday, 17 June 2012
The Last Matchday in Group B or How Ronaldo Humiliated Netherlands
Supposedly, Cristiano Ronaldo promised that he would score three in his next game, after playing so badly against Denmark.
Well, he didn't score three, but he came damn close.
If Ronaldo played every game like this one, maybe he would be the best player in the world. (In my humble opinion, Messi is still the best.)
He scored two goals, hit the post twice, and played a perfect pass to Nani, at 1-1, that should have resulted in another Portuguese goal (- not even to mention that every time he got the ball in the Dutch half there was danger).
But let's start from the start.
Van der Vaart. Why was van Bommel inserted in the Dutch starting eleven instead of van der Vaart, in the matches against Denmark and Germany?
Rafael van der Vaart scored the first of the six goals on this day. And he would almost equalize at 2 for Netherlands, in the second half, with a similar effort that hit the post.
But, getting back to the first goal, it was a great shot from outside the box. And the Dutch began hoping. (This was just eleven minutes after kick-off.)
They needed a second one, and a German victory in the other match, to go through.
The Germans seemed on track for that scenario, too. On his 100th appearance in a Germany jersey, Lukas Podolski (in minute 19) took advantage of bad Danish defending to slot the ball into the top of the net from a few meters out. All three bottom teams, Portugal, Denmark and Netherlands were on three points at that stage, but the Portuguese and the Danes had identical best head-to-head records, 3-3, against Netherlands, leaving Holland, with 1-1, at the bottom of the group. Portugal would have advanced, because of better UEFA national team coefficient, the next tie-breaking criterion that could have been applied to separate them from Denmark's team.
But Denmark hit back. Only five minutes after Podolski's strike, the Danes showed great aerial agility in the German penalty box, and Krohn-Dehli used his head to deflect another header from a team-mate past the helpless Neuer. At this point, Denmark was through to the quarter-finals.
However, Portugal was pressing. And, in the 28th minute, Ronaldo finally got in behind the Dutch defense. He defeated Stekelenburg with a cool strike. Portugal was back in second place, again, just like at the start of the match.
Portugal continued to press, because they knew a Danish goal could eliminate them. And, obviously, the Denmark players could score on Germany.
But a 2-1 victory for Denmark could also eliminate the Germans, on the other hand, if Portugal also happened to win.
And, what do you know, after a few huge chances missed for Portugal, they did finally take the lead. In the 74th minute, Ronaldo again was found in the Dutch penalty area, with room to maneuver, and he had no problem scoring.
Now, at 2-1 for Portugal, and the Danes pressing in the other match, just one goal could have seen the Germans forced to pack their bags.
One goal did come, but it was scored by the Germans, though.
It was heartbreak for Denmark, as they were caught too advanced, and Lars Bender (80) obtained the victory for Germany. So, Denmark was the team that was going to go home.
2-1 in both matches. But not for the teams that desperately needed to win.
And these results clearly divided the four teams into four separate classes: the team that beat everybody else (on 9 points), the team that only lost to the best team but beat the other two (with 6), the team that could only beat the bottom team (with 3), and, of course, the team that lost to everybody (on 0 points). Or Germany, Portugal, Denmark, Netherlands, in that order.
Netherlands: what a disappointment!
Highlights from Denmark - Germany 1-2:
Дания - Германия 1:2(1) by landsgraaf
Highlights from Portugal - Netherlands 2-1:
Well, he didn't score three, but he came damn close.
If Ronaldo played every game like this one, maybe he would be the best player in the world. (In my humble opinion, Messi is still the best.)
He scored two goals, hit the post twice, and played a perfect pass to Nani, at 1-1, that should have resulted in another Portuguese goal (- not even to mention that every time he got the ball in the Dutch half there was danger).
But let's start from the start.
Van der Vaart. Why was van Bommel inserted in the Dutch starting eleven instead of van der Vaart, in the matches against Denmark and Germany?
Rafael van der Vaart scored the first of the six goals on this day. And he would almost equalize at 2 for Netherlands, in the second half, with a similar effort that hit the post.
But, getting back to the first goal, it was a great shot from outside the box. And the Dutch began hoping. (This was just eleven minutes after kick-off.)
They needed a second one, and a German victory in the other match, to go through.
The Germans seemed on track for that scenario, too. On his 100th appearance in a Germany jersey, Lukas Podolski (in minute 19) took advantage of bad Danish defending to slot the ball into the top of the net from a few meters out. All three bottom teams, Portugal, Denmark and Netherlands were on three points at that stage, but the Portuguese and the Danes had identical best head-to-head records, 3-3, against Netherlands, leaving Holland, with 1-1, at the bottom of the group. Portugal would have advanced, because of better UEFA national team coefficient, the next tie-breaking criterion that could have been applied to separate them from Denmark's team.
But Denmark hit back. Only five minutes after Podolski's strike, the Danes showed great aerial agility in the German penalty box, and Krohn-Dehli used his head to deflect another header from a team-mate past the helpless Neuer. At this point, Denmark was through to the quarter-finals.
However, Portugal was pressing. And, in the 28th minute, Ronaldo finally got in behind the Dutch defense. He defeated Stekelenburg with a cool strike. Portugal was back in second place, again, just like at the start of the match.
Portugal continued to press, because they knew a Danish goal could eliminate them. And, obviously, the Denmark players could score on Germany.
But a 2-1 victory for Denmark could also eliminate the Germans, on the other hand, if Portugal also happened to win.
And, what do you know, after a few huge chances missed for Portugal, they did finally take the lead. In the 74th minute, Ronaldo again was found in the Dutch penalty area, with room to maneuver, and he had no problem scoring.
Now, at 2-1 for Portugal, and the Danes pressing in the other match, just one goal could have seen the Germans forced to pack their bags.
One goal did come, but it was scored by the Germans, though.
It was heartbreak for Denmark, as they were caught too advanced, and Lars Bender (80) obtained the victory for Germany. So, Denmark was the team that was going to go home.
2-1 in both matches. But not for the teams that desperately needed to win.
And these results clearly divided the four teams into four separate classes: the team that beat everybody else (on 9 points), the team that only lost to the best team but beat the other two (with 6), the team that could only beat the bottom team (with 3), and, of course, the team that lost to everybody (on 0 points). Or Germany, Portugal, Denmark, Netherlands, in that order.
Netherlands: what a disappointment!
Highlights from Denmark - Germany 1-2:
Дания - Германия 1:2(1) by landsgraaf
Highlights from Portugal - Netherlands 2-1:
Saturday, 16 June 2012
Group B - Possible Scenarios
Here's what could happen on the final matchday of Group B:
1) Portugal wins & Denmark wins
1-1. Denmark wins 1-0:
Portugal 6p, Denmark 6p, Germany 6 p, Netherlands 0p
(Portugal and Denmark would have identical best head-to-head records in the three-way tie against Germany, eliminating the Germans, but Portugal would win the group thanks to better goal difference or more goals scored or higher UEFA national team coefficient.)
1-2. Denmark wins 3-2 and Portugal wins 1-0 or 2-1:
Denmark 6p, Germany 6p, Portugal 6p, Netherlands 0p
(Portugal and Germany would have identical worst head-to-head records in the three-way tie against Denmark, but Germany would advance thanks to having scored one more goal or a higher UEFA national team coefficient.)
1-3. Denmark wins by any score other than 1-0 and 3-2 or wins 3-2 and Portugal wins by any score other than 1-0 or 2-1:
Denmark 6p, Portugal 6p, Germany 6p, Netherlands 0p
(Denmark and Portugal would advance because Germany would have the worst head-to-head record against Denmark and Portugal or worse goal difference than Portugal or fewer goals scored than Portugal)
2) Portugal wins & draw in the other match:
Germany 7p, Portugal 6p, Denmark 4p, Netherlands 0p
3) Portugal wins & Germany wins:
Germany 9p, Portugal 6p, Denmark 3p, Netherlands 0p
4) draw in the first match & Denmark wins
Denmark 6p, Germany 6p, Portugal 4p, Netherlands 1p
(Denmark would win the group because of the head-to-head record.)
5) draws in both matches:
Germany 7p, Portugal 4p, Denmark 4p, Netherlands 1p
(Portugal would advance because of the head-to-head record.)
6) draw in the first match & Germany wins:
Germany 9p, Portugal 4p, Denmark 3p, Netherlands 1p
7) Netherlands wins & Denmark wins:
Denmark 6p, Germany 6p, Netherlands 3p, Portugal 3p
(Denmark would win the group because of the head-to-head record, and Portugal would finish bottom because of the head-to-head record.)
8) Netherlands wins & draw in the other match
Germany 7p, Denmark 4p, Netherlands 3p, Portugal 3p
(Netherlands would finish third because of the head-to-head record.)
9) Netherlands wins & Germany wins
9-1. Netherlands wins 1-0 and Germany wins 1-0 or by two or more goals:
Germany 9p, Portugal 3p, Denmark 3p, Netherlands 3p
(Portugal and Denmark would have identical best head-to-head records against Netherlands, but Portugal would advance thanks to superior goal difference or being ranked higher in the UEFA national team coefficient rankings.)
9-2. Netherlands wins 1-0 and Germany wins by one goal but not 1-0:
Germany 9p, Denmark 3p, Portugal 3p, Netherlands 3p
(Portugal and Denmark would have identical best head-to-head records against Netherlands, but Denmark would advance thanks to scoring more goals than Portugal in the tournament.)
9-3. Netherlands wins by one goal but not 1-0:
Germany 9p, Portugal 3p, Netherlands or Denmark 3p, Denmark or Netherlands 3p
(Portugal would advance because of scoring more goals in the head-to-head records against Netherlands and Denmark, while Netherlands and Denmark would be separated depending on how many goals Netherlands scores against Portugal and/or the severity of Denmark's defeat, but this is not extremely important since both teams would be out and very few might care who finished third and who finished fourth.)
9-4. Netherlands wins by two goals or more:
Germany 9p, Netherlands 3p, Denmark 3p, Portugal 3p
(Netherlands would advance because of better goal difference in the head-to-head records against Denmark and Portugal, leaving Portugal with the worst goal difference.)
1) Portugal wins & Denmark wins
1-1. Denmark wins 1-0:
Portugal 6p, Denmark 6p, Germany 6 p, Netherlands 0p
(Portugal and Denmark would have identical best head-to-head records in the three-way tie against Germany, eliminating the Germans, but Portugal would win the group thanks to better goal difference or more goals scored or higher UEFA national team coefficient.)
1-2. Denmark wins 3-2 and Portugal wins 1-0 or 2-1:
Denmark 6p, Germany 6p, Portugal 6p, Netherlands 0p
(Portugal and Germany would have identical worst head-to-head records in the three-way tie against Denmark, but Germany would advance thanks to having scored one more goal or a higher UEFA national team coefficient.)
1-3. Denmark wins by any score other than 1-0 and 3-2 or wins 3-2 and Portugal wins by any score other than 1-0 or 2-1:
Denmark 6p, Portugal 6p, Germany 6p, Netherlands 0p
(Denmark and Portugal would advance because Germany would have the worst head-to-head record against Denmark and Portugal or worse goal difference than Portugal or fewer goals scored than Portugal)
2) Portugal wins & draw in the other match:
Germany 7p, Portugal 6p, Denmark 4p, Netherlands 0p
3) Portugal wins & Germany wins:
Germany 9p, Portugal 6p, Denmark 3p, Netherlands 0p
4) draw in the first match & Denmark wins
Denmark 6p, Germany 6p, Portugal 4p, Netherlands 1p
(Denmark would win the group because of the head-to-head record.)
5) draws in both matches:
Germany 7p, Portugal 4p, Denmark 4p, Netherlands 1p
(Portugal would advance because of the head-to-head record.)
6) draw in the first match & Germany wins:
Germany 9p, Portugal 4p, Denmark 3p, Netherlands 1p
7) Netherlands wins & Denmark wins:
Denmark 6p, Germany 6p, Netherlands 3p, Portugal 3p
(Denmark would win the group because of the head-to-head record, and Portugal would finish bottom because of the head-to-head record.)
8) Netherlands wins & draw in the other match
Germany 7p, Denmark 4p, Netherlands 3p, Portugal 3p
(Netherlands would finish third because of the head-to-head record.)
9) Netherlands wins & Germany wins
9-1. Netherlands wins 1-0 and Germany wins 1-0 or by two or more goals:
Germany 9p, Portugal 3p, Denmark 3p, Netherlands 3p
(Portugal and Denmark would have identical best head-to-head records against Netherlands, but Portugal would advance thanks to superior goal difference or being ranked higher in the UEFA national team coefficient rankings.)
9-2. Netherlands wins 1-0 and Germany wins by one goal but not 1-0:
Germany 9p, Denmark 3p, Portugal 3p, Netherlands 3p
(Portugal and Denmark would have identical best head-to-head records against Netherlands, but Denmark would advance thanks to scoring more goals than Portugal in the tournament.)
9-3. Netherlands wins by one goal but not 1-0:
Germany 9p, Portugal 3p, Netherlands or Denmark 3p, Denmark or Netherlands 3p
(Portugal would advance because of scoring more goals in the head-to-head records against Netherlands and Denmark, while Netherlands and Denmark would be separated depending on how many goals Netherlands scores against Portugal and/or the severity of Denmark's defeat, but this is not extremely important since both teams would be out and very few might care who finished third and who finished fourth.)
9-4. Netherlands wins by two goals or more:
Germany 9p, Netherlands 3p, Denmark 3p, Portugal 3p
(Netherlands would advance because of better goal difference in the head-to-head records against Denmark and Portugal, leaving Portugal with the worst goal difference.)
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Strong Nerves
... Not from Cristiano Ronaldo, that's for sure.
But the Portuguese team had their mettle tested quite hardly in the game against Denmark.
Pepe (in minute 24) scored a goal quite similar to Shevchenko's second against Sweden. And when Postiga (36) put the ball in the net for the second time, with a perfect volley, it seemed like the contest was over.
However, only 5 minutes after Postiga's goal, badly-played offside trap made another victim again, when Bendtner only had to head the ball into the empty net from a few meters, after Krohn-Dehli's smart moves destroyed the Portuguese maneuver.
It stayed like that for almost forty minutes, excluding the half-time break.
And then the Danish's persistence paid off. Jacobsen's long cross was missed by Pepe, and Bendtner again scored.
It was 2-2, with ten minutes left, but to their credit the Portuguese were not discouraged.
Silvestre Varela, the attacker who missed a very good chance against Germany, came on again as a substitute, but this time he scored. After missing the volley shot, Varela took advantage that the ball was still at his feet, and managed an unstoppable shot to the left of Andersen.
All nice and good for Portugal, even though they gave up a two-goal lead, but they just have to be worried about Ronaldo missing three chances to score, including a huge one, alone with the Danish goalkeeper, at 2-1. (That would have probably settled the tie, and Ronaldo would not have heard the end of it from the Portuguese press if the game had ended 2-2.)
Highlights:
But the Portuguese team had their mettle tested quite hardly in the game against Denmark.
Pepe (in minute 24) scored a goal quite similar to Shevchenko's second against Sweden. And when Postiga (36) put the ball in the net for the second time, with a perfect volley, it seemed like the contest was over.
However, only 5 minutes after Postiga's goal, badly-played offside trap made another victim again, when Bendtner only had to head the ball into the empty net from a few meters, after Krohn-Dehli's smart moves destroyed the Portuguese maneuver.
It stayed like that for almost forty minutes, excluding the half-time break.
And then the Danish's persistence paid off. Jacobsen's long cross was missed by Pepe, and Bendtner again scored.
It was 2-2, with ten minutes left, but to their credit the Portuguese were not discouraged.
Silvestre Varela, the attacker who missed a very good chance against Germany, came on again as a substitute, but this time he scored. After missing the volley shot, Varela took advantage that the ball was still at his feet, and managed an unstoppable shot to the left of Andersen.
All nice and good for Portugal, even though they gave up a two-goal lead, but they just have to be worried about Ronaldo missing three chances to score, including a huge one, alone with the Danish goalkeeper, at 2-1. (That would have probably settled the tie, and Ronaldo would not have heard the end of it from the Portuguese press if the game had ended 2-2.)
Highlights:
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Was a Draw More Equitable?
Sure, Germany was the favourite, and they lived up to that billing, but in my opinion Portugal did not deserve to lose.
In first-half injury time, Pepe was unfortunate to not score for Lusitan team, and overall Portugal hit the woodwork two times. If that's not bad luck, what is?
Germany pressed more, but the goal (scored by Gomez in the 72nd minute) still came at the end of a very mild attack. Portugal defended very well, otherwise.
In the closing minutes, Varela should have scored for Portugal when he only had Neuer to beat, but he proved his lack of experience and composure in critical moments.
Germany got the three points, but just barely. And this is just another one of those games that makes you wonder how can one measly goal be worth 3 whole points (2 extra, actually, as opposed to a 1, for a tie).
Highlights:
GERMANY 1-0 PORTUGAL Match highlights HD... by vik2003
In first-half injury time, Pepe was unfortunate to not score for Lusitan team, and overall Portugal hit the woodwork two times. If that's not bad luck, what is?
Germany pressed more, but the goal (scored by Gomez in the 72nd minute) still came at the end of a very mild attack. Portugal defended very well, otherwise.
In the closing minutes, Varela should have scored for Portugal when he only had Neuer to beat, but he proved his lack of experience and composure in critical moments.
Germany got the three points, but just barely. And this is just another one of those games that makes you wonder how can one measly goal be worth 3 whole points (2 extra, actually, as opposed to a 1, for a tie).
Highlights:
GERMANY 1-0 PORTUGAL Match highlights HD... by vik2003
Monday, 4 June 2012
Portugal - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2012-2013
FC Porto --> Champions League Group Stage
Benfica Lisbon --> Champions League Group Stage
SC Braga --> Champions League Play-off Round
Sporting Lisbon --> Europa League Play-off Round
Maritimo Funchal --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Academica Coimbra --> Europa League Group Stage
Benfica Lisbon --> Champions League Group Stage
SC Braga --> Champions League Play-off Round
Sporting Lisbon --> Europa League Play-off Round
Maritimo Funchal --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Academica Coimbra --> Europa League Group Stage
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