Outright Odds: 22/one
Group D Winners: five/six
After a disastrous 2002 Environment Cup, where they finished bottom of their https://www.washingtonpost.com/newssearch/?query=해외스포츠중계 team subsequent defeats by each The us and South Korea, Portugal is going to be trying to at last Stay up for their opportunity on the Intercontinental phase.
Qualification was a breeze. They remained unbeaten in their team and finished 7 factors clear at the best. Portugal meant business enterprise In this particular team, Placing 11 earlier Luxembourg throughout two legs and hammering 2nd-favourites Russia 7-1 in your house.
The charismatic Luiz Felipe Scolari, or Huge Phil to his friends, has designed a completely new team to switch the ageing or retired underachievers like Rui Costa, Joao Pinto and Other people Even though Luis Figo, now entering veteran position and outside of retirement, is going to be existing in Germany. Even with guiding Portugal to the ultimate of Euro 2004 and emphatic World Cup qualification, the public are still not convinced he is the man for that career.
The groups Main is predicated all around 4 gamers who won the Champions League with FC Porto in 2004. Defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira and midfielder Maniche now all at Chelsea and Costinha, now at Dinamo Moscow offer a stable base to the attack-minded stars to play around.
Attacking gamers for instance Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao Sabrosa and naturalised Brazilian Deco compliment the facet completely and build quite a few probabilities for striker Pauleta. The Paris St. Germain hitman overtook Eusebios document of forty one international ambitions with a powerful haul of eleven in qualifying, earning him the eu zones top rated goalscorer.
Manchester United winger Ronaldo could illuminate the finals with his techniques and coveted move-overs. He weighed in with seven qualifying goals from midfield, raising his Fantasy Soccer inventory substantially.
Portugal have every one of the 해외스포츠중계 makings of a Environment Cup winning side: a sound defence, Outstanding high quality and goalscoring prospective from midfield and Europes deadliest striker in qualifying.
Their main downfall appears to get the goalkeeping posture. Sporting Lisbons Ricardo and Quim from Benfica are the two vying with the jersey although the supporters selection is apparently out-of-favour Vitor Baia. A veteran on the 2002 Globe Cup side, 36-calendar year-old Baia was omitted from Scolaris remaining 23 during the Euro 2004 squad.
Encouraged Wager:
The underachieving squad with the past have Nearly all been changed by a completely new crop of youthful expertise. Previous stagers Luis Figo and Pauleta will search for a last swansong, Using the latter a audio Every single-way bet for leading goalscorer standing.
Portugal to earn Group D @ 5/6
E/W Pauleta as best goalscorer @ forty/1