Can wing wizard Ronaldo produce magic for Portugal?

By REDintern Hariharan

Boasting a star-studded cast that includes Ronaldo, Deco, Pepe, and Simao, Portugal are looking a formidable force going into the World Cup.

Can Portugal depend on their individual talents to earn them victory? Or will they prove that too many cooks do indeed spoil the broth?

Here’s a preview of Portugal going into the World Cup that kicks off on June 11th.

World Cup Pedigree
Portugal have never won the World Cup in their history. Their best World Cup performances came in 1966 where they clinched third place, and in 2006 where they finished fourth.

They were knocked out by Germany in the quarter-finals of their last major competition, the Euro 2008.

Qualification
Portugal endured a tough qualification group. They settled in second place behind Denmark, edging out Sweden by a single point. Portugal met Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoffs and beat them 1-0 both at home and away.

Achievement in 2006 World Cup
Portugal achieved 4th place in the 2006 World Cup.

Cruising through the group stage, Portugal picked up maximum points against Mexico, Angola and Iran.

Meeting and beating Netherlands 1-0 in the second round, Portugal faced England in the quarter-finals. The game remained goalless after extra-time and was won by the Portuguese on penalties.

With the finishing line in sight, Portugal’s World Cup dreams came to an abrupt end when France beat them 1-0 in the semis.

Portugal were resigned to 4th place after hosts Germany outclassed them 3-1 in the third and fourth placing match.

Coach
Former Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz was appointed as Portugal’s head coach in 2008. This is his second stint as Portugal coach after his first appointment in 1991. During the three years he was at the helm, he failed to get Portugal into the Euro 1992 and the 1994 World Cup.

Having won seven domestic championships and one Champions League trophy alongside Sir Alex Ferguson, Queiroz has knowledge and experience of major competitions.

Queiroz took over from Luis Felipe Scolari as head coach of Portugal in 2008. His predecessor had announced his decision to coach Chelsea FC after an unsuccessful Euro 2008 campaign with Portugal.

Quieroz’s first task was to ensure qualification for the 2010 World Cup. Portugal barely managed to qualify for the World Cup, struggling under Quieroz’s management.

Captain
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo needs no introduction. The Real Madrid star left his mark with Manchester United and hopes to do the same on the international stage.

Ronaldo’s debut season in Real Madrid was unsatisfactory by his standards as his team fell behind La Liga champions Barcelona. Although arguably playing better than he had been at Manchester United, Real Madrid fans expected more from the £80 million signing.

Ronaldo did not prove his leadership qualities during the World Cup qualification after getting appointed captain by Quieroz. Ronaldo’s relationship with Queiroz from his days at Old Trafford will be key in translating orders from the dressing room onto the pitch.

Players to watch
Cristiano Ronaldo — Immense pressure has been heaped on the 25-year old to bring home the World Cup. Having done well in his debut season at Real Madrid, Ronaldo will look to continue his good form with his national team.

However, there have been suggestions that he has always saved his best performances for his club rather than his country. To make life even more difficult, Ronaldo might be required to play as a forward. His versatility as a world-class player will be questioned on the big stage.

Raul Meireles — The defensive midfielder will feature alongside Deco as the dynamic duo pull the strings in the engine room. “Consistent” is the word used by coach Queiroz to describe the F.C. Porto midfielder. Meireles has featured in all 12 of Portugal’s qualifiers, churning out steady performances continuously.

To put the icing on the cake, the midfielder can also score goals. Meireles scored a crucial goal in the playoffs against Bosnia and Herzegovina that secured Portugal’s place in the World Cup. He also recently put two goals past Cameroon in a warm-up game.

Simao — The Atletico Madrid winger will be summoned to support Ronaldo in attack and score goals. Simao’s experience and forward instincts will be crucial in playing with Ronaldo and gang in attack, as he must adapt to their playing style and read the game going forward. Having played a forward role on numerous occasions, Simao’s understanding of the role will add depth to his play.

Team Strengths
Portugal has a squad with many talented individuals. The team is attack oriented and are strong in midfield. Portugal have Deco, Raul Meireles and Pepe orchestrating attacks from the middle of the park. Their speedy wingers Simao and Nani will add venom to the attacks. Ronaldo’s trickery with Liedson’s deadly finishing upfront will terrorize opposing defenses.

Team Weaknesses
Portugal have yet to gel and function well as a team. Their game play seems to be tailored to specific individual abilities. This makes for a distorted flow in their game. Quieroz has placed too much focus on his captain Ronaldo and has even hailed him as “Superman”. Although Ronaldo has proven every now and again that he can cope with pressure, football is ultimately a team sport.

Overall Squad Strength
Of the 23-man squad announced on June 1st, nine players ply their trade in the domestic league. Seven players feature in the Spanish La Liga, including big names Ronaldo, Simao, and Pepe.

The four players that star in the English Premier League are Chelsea trio, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Deco and Manchester United winger Nani. However, Nani is now out after picking up a shoulder injury during training.

Probable Starting 11
Eduardo (GK), Bruno Alves, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Duda, Pedro Mendes, Raul Meireles, Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao, Liedson

1st Round Predictions
Featuring in the group of death, Portugal look a safe bet to come out second in the group. With Brazil as clear favourites to top the group and North Korea seen as the weakest, Ivory Coast seem to be Portugal’s only threat. However, with Ivory Coast’s talismanic striker Didier Drogba out with a fractured arm, Portugal’s chances are looking good.

Ed’s note: Red Sports will be covering the World Cup daily and so join us each day to share your opinions about the night’s action.

For the World Cup fixtures list with Singapore broadcast timings as well as group tables and the list of CCs with free screenings, go to: http://redsports.sg/2010-world-cup-fixtures-groups/

Group G	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
BRAZIL	3	2	1	0	5	2	+3	7
PORTUGAL	3	1	2	0	7	0	+7	5
IVORY COAST	3	1	1	1	4	3	+1	4
NORTH KOREA	3	0	0	3	1	12	-11	0

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For the World Cup fixtures list with Singapore broadcast timings as well as group tables and the list of CCs with free screenings, go to: http://redsports.sg/2010-world-cup-fixtures-groups/

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