We turn our attentions to Portugal now, as our covering of Group G continues. Paulo Bento’s side get their campaign underway by facing one of the favourites, Germany, on Monday June 16 at 5pm before taking on USA six days later at 11pm, and finish their group schedule with a showdown against the less-fancied Ghana at 5pm on Thursday June 26:
Road to Qualification
The Portuguese finished second to Russia in a qualifying group that also included Israel, Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. Winning six and drawing three of their 10 fixtures, Bento’s side scored 20 times but failed to impress at the back – conceding on nine occasions, they managed just four clean sheets in a relatively weak group. Up against Sweden in a two-legged play-off, they chalked up a 1-0 home win before triumphing 3-2 on their travels, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring all four goals to ensure his nation’s progress.
Most Starts Rui Patrico, Miguel Veloso, Joao Moutinho (12), Fabio Coentrao (11), Pepe, Bruno Alves, Cristiano Ronaldo, Helder Postiga, Joao Pereira, Raul Meireles, Nani (8)
Most Goals Cristiano Ronaldo (8), Helder Postiga (6), Bruno Alves (4)
Most Assists Joao Moutinho (9), Fabio Coentrao (3), Hugo Almeida, Cristiano Ronaldo (2)
The Key Targets
As the above statistics show, Bento has placed his faith in a small core of players – each of his preferred XI for the qualifiers featured at least eight times in the starting line-up. Since clinching their spot in this month’s tournament, Portugal have played two friendlies, with a 5-1 win over Jamaica in March followed by a goalless draw against Greece at the end of last month, albeit without Ronaldo.
Tactically, Portugal set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with an ability to counter at speed perhaps more suited to playing against tougher opponents, given that Bento’s side have struggled to break down teams that were willing to sit deep. Both Fabio Coentrao and Joao Pereira (available for 5.9 and 5.8 in FantasyiTeam) are nailed-on for the full-back berths – despite a lack of game time at Real Madrid last season, the former is key for Bento and will be tasked with foraging forward and offering width from deep, as evidenced by his goal and a trio of assists over the qualifiers.
Whilst Pepe is also as secure a starter, it seems more likely that Bruno Alves will be the man to watch out for at the back. The latter scored four times during the qualifiers, with his aerial threat in the box coming to fruition time and again – he comes in at 5.8 in FantasyiTeam, to Pepe’s 6.0.
In central midfield, Joao Moutinho is the standout option. Whilst Miguel Veloso’s role as the deep-lying destroyer in front of the back-four is now under increasing threat from Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho, Moutinho (6.7 in FantasyiTeam) is nailed-on and his nine assists during qualifying leaves Raul Meireles – without any returns in eight appearances – firmly in the shade.
Handed a role on the left of the front three with the freedom to roam, Cristiano Ronaldo’s contribution will be the difference between success and failure. It remains to be seen if he’ll fully recover from knee and thigh problems in time and if the Real Madrid man fails to produce his very best, Bento’s side may struggle to progress beyond the group stages – eight goals and a pair of assists in eight appearances sums up how essential Ronaldo is.
Lone forward Helder Postiga chipped in with an impressive six strikes – without the aid of spot-kicks – and will remain firmly under the radar, though, due to Ronaldo’s popularity – understandably, he’s the most budget-friendly of the two in FantasyiTeam, by 8.1 to 10.7. United’s Nani should be handed the role on the right of the front three but made a minimal impact over qualifying and has done little, either domestically or on the international stage, to justify our attention – nonetheless, at just 5.7 and listed as a midfielder in FantasyiTeam, he may persuade one or two to take a punt.
The Long Shots
The energy-sapping conditions will surely ensure that most, if not all, teams will look to utilise three substitutes during each match. Bento could turn to Porto’s Silvestre Varela, who has a habit of producing the goods off the bench, to make the difference in the latter stages of games as opposition backlines begin to tire. He sets you back 6.6 in FantasyiTeam.
Further Analysis
Group A – Brazil,Cameroon, Croatia, Mexico
Group B – Australia, Chile, Holland, Spain
Group C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D – Costa Rica, England, Italy, Uruguay
Group E – Ecuador, France, Honduras, Switzerland
Group F –Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria,
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