|
23/06/06 The players involved in
Wednesday's game against Mexico went through a 'soft' taining session Thursday, while Deco, rested against Mexico because of his yellow card from a previous game, trained apart for the others. Before the session, Luíz
Felipe Scolari spoke to the squad for 20 minutes, and at the end, Scolari spoke to FPF president Gilberto Madaíl, also for 20 minutes. 22/06/06 Portugal
made it three out of three in Group D Wednesday, beating Mexico 2-1 in front of 52,000 at Gelsenkirchen. Maniche got them off to a splendid start on just six minutes, Maniche
thumping Simão's square pass home from the edge of the box after a neat cut in from the left by the Benfica winger. It was Simão
who got the second from the spot on 23 minutes after Marquez had handled. It took Mexico just five minutes to peg one back, Fonseca heading in from a corner, with no one covering the back post. If the first half was Portugal's, the second belonged to Mexico, even if they were down to ten men on the hour after Luís Perez saw a second yellow for a dive in the area.
The teams lined up: Portugal: Ricardo, Miguel (Paulo Ferreira 60), Fernando Meira, Ricardo Carvalho, Caneira, Petit, Tiago, Maniche, Figo (Boa Morte 80), Simão, Hélder Postiga (Nuno Gomes 68). Mexico:
Osvaldo Sanchez, Francisco Rodriguez (Zinha 46), Ricardo Osório, Carlos Salcido, Mário Mendez (Guillermo Franco 80), Pavel Pardo, Rafael Marquez, Gonzalo Pineda (Jose Castro 69), Luis Perez, Jose Fonseca, Omar Bravo.
Mexico had one ear on the other game in the group, where Angola took the lead against Iran. But that game ended in a 1-1 draw, and so it is Portugal and Mexico who go through, to play
Holland and Argentina respectively. The Selecção knocked Holland out of Euro 2004 in the semi-final. The game between the two is at 20.00 on Sunday. What they said: Scolari:
"Three wins in a World Cup would mark the life of anyone. I think the way the team performed from beginning to end was good ... We have to continue to do our day-to-day work and try to guarantee another victory ... I feel like we can go further, but there are still three more steps and they're more difficult than the ones we've climbed so far. What we hope for most is to be in the top eight, because that's what we wanted right from the beginning.
Simão: We have to take it game by game .. Of course the pole is set higher now - from now on, any team has a chance to be World Champions. Hélder Postiga:
"I think we were all good and we're to be congratulated. The most important thing is that we won and clinched top spot in the Group - we showed that we were the most consistent ... I did my job - now it's up to the coach to decide."
Marco Caneira: "It was a more tiring game, but we managed to control it. Our objective was to finish top to have an extra day's rest ... If we want to get anywhere, we have to win on Sunday." Cristiano Ronaldo
(rested): "Those who came in played well, but I don't feel that my place is in danger. I work hard to play, but if that doesn't happen, whoever comes in is going to play the same part as me or even better. What0's most important is that Portugal win."
Pauleta
(rested): "It was a difficult game against a team that needed at least a draw, but I think Portugal managed to play well, we created a few chances, we scored two and achieved our objective."
21/06/06 The Selecção are in Essen, 20 kms from Gelesenkirchen, ahead of Wednesday's final Group D game against Mexico
As Portugal are already through to the last 16, coach Luíz Felipe Scolari
said that players with yellow cards will be rested: "I'm only going to leave out five players … They're not going to play a second, even if we're losing 30-0." Scolari is not frightened of either Argentina or Holland in the last 16: "What we had to do was get through, and we've done that. Now we just have to wait to see who is the
winner of Group C
to know who we're going to play … although we knew that our next opponent would come from that group. From now on, we mustn't lose. We're prepared for any opponent ... until now, we've only been working for the first phase. After Wednesday, we're going to be working towards our next opponent. But the team are confident, they're up for it and they've been working hard, so it's not hard to coach a team like that.
Eusébio, accompanying the Selecçao, is so confident that he's staying on: "Since we beat Iran, I haven't even been back to Portugal because I have to be close and encourage the boys – I
reckon we can go further this time than os Magriços [the 1966 team that came third, after losing to eventual winners England in the semi-final]". Against Mexico, the 'Panther' hopes that "the team go
out to win, to come top." Gilmar Veloz, Scolari's agent, has said that he cannot speak about the possibility of the coach renewing his contract with the FPF: "I was forbidden to
talk about it by Mr Scolari from the beginning of the tournament until the end. The coach is totally concentrated on the World Cup, and at the end we'll meet and talk about this and other matters ... At this time I'm
not authorised to make any comment on this." 19/06/06 Portugal trained in Gütersloh Sunday, once again in front of thousands of people (around 10,000
) who sang the national anthem, constantly encouraged the players and chased autographs. Monday's training session will be behind closed doors. Portugal are expected to rest some players
for the last group game, given that they have already qualified and Scolari will be keen to avoid players being suspended for the last-16 game against Argentina or Holland (depending on positions in the respective groups). The players who are on one yellow are:
Cristiano Ronaldo, Costinha, Pauleta, Deco and Nuno Valente. 17/06/06 (II) With a much improved performance, Portugal beat Iran
2-0 in Frankfurt Saturday (see match report) to go through to the last 16. A superb goal by Deco and a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, both in the second half, gave Portugal the three points they needed
and consigned Iran to the departure lounge, after they play Angola in the last group game. Portugal's last game is against Mexico, who may need to draw to qualify ahead of Angola if the Africans can beat Iran.
Portugal's hope now will be to avoid the outstanding Argentina in the next phase. 17/06/06 Angola drew 0-0 with Mexico
Friday, leaving the way clear for Portugal to qualify from Group D if they beat Iran on Saturday. "It's the best result in the history of Angolan football," said coach Oliveira Gonçalves.
Cristiano Ronaldo is fit again and ready to start against Iran on Saturday. Portugal coach Luíz Felipe Scolari
said: "This Iran team deserves even more respect than Angola, because they're a stronger team and for them it's also a decisive game. We obviously want to go through, and for that we'll have to win. By 'half'-nil, one nil, two nil ... it doesn't matter – as long as we get the three points … This is the most important group game, because if we win it, we'll go through … Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco can play tomorrow provided that they show me that they're totally recovered in all respects … All of my players are super-motivated for this game and ready to make any sacrifice. I've heard players today say that 'if necessary, I'll play 20, 30, 50, 120 minutes, and if I have to be two more weeks without playing, then I will' … The group is less nervous, but they feel more respect for Iran … they've seen the video of them, and know the problems that await them". Of the teams that he has seen so far, Scolari said that he has been most impressed by: Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, England and Brazil.
15/06/06 Cristiano Ronaldo left the training session early Wednesday complaining of muscle fatigue. The good news was that Deco
returned to full training after nursing a thigh injury. In Wednesday's press conference, midfielder Costinha supported the continuity of Luíz Felipe Scolari at the head of the Selecção
: "So many good things have happened with Scolari in charge that I'd like him to continue, but I wonder if it's worth him carrying on, because everything he does is questioned – no one's ever satisfied with his
work. Every day he's criticised more and more ... Now it's not the clubs that give the orders over the Selecção
but those in charge of the Federation and the coach, who has his own ideas and will die for them. I'm glad about that because I prefe to see a coach die for his own ideas than for someone else's. The younger players are going to bnefit a lot from Scolari … The criticism [of the
Selecção] doesn't worry me much. The most important thing is that in the heart of the Selecção
there's a very strong team spirit. Bad things that reach there die at birth. We're concentrated on winning games. We know that we have to be mentally very strong, and stong as a team, to beat our opponents on the field, in the stands and beyond … for anyone who didn't see the Iran v Mexico game, it's important to point out that Mexico didn't have it easy. Iran [Portugal's opponents on Saturday] are a strong team, and Portugal have to be concerned about that."
FPF president Gilberto Madaíl was once again asked if Scolari had been pressured by the Federation into not calling up FC Porto goalkeeper Vítor Baía, which has been
rumoured for some time. "The FPF is not a third-world organisation. I can guarantee that during the present mandate, no national team coach has been pressured, or even influenced, into calling up player 'A' ou 'B',
or leaving out player 'C' or 'D' ". The statement comes after an interview with the Brazilian Ruy Carlos Ostermann – author of Luiz Felipe Scolari's biography after the 2002 World Cup – given to the national daily
Jornal de Notícias, in which he says that the decision not to call up Baía came from the FPF. Cristiano Ronaldo
tops the list of 'best-looking and sexiest' players, published by Dutch gay magazine Gay Krant. The winger is picked for 'FC Hunks'
alongside: Markus Rosenberg (Sweden) John Heitinga (Holland), Michael Owen (England), Robin van Persie (Holland), David Beckham (England), Fredrik Ljungberg (Sweden), Kaká (Brazil), Fernando Torrres (Spain), Jan Kromkamp (Holland) and Iker Casillas (Spain). On the bench are: Nelson Valdez (Paraguay), Francesco Totti (Italy), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Holland) and Oswaldo Sanchez (Mexico).
13/06/06 The Portugal players had the afternoon off Monday, but unlike earlier in the pre-tournament, they did not overstep the mark and all returned to the
hotel by 22.00. Even so, coach Luíz Felipe Scolari has cancelled Tuesday morning's training session. Thousands of fans are expected at the afternoon session. Deco, who missed the Angola game with a
thigh injury, trained apart Monday morning. "I hope to recover in time for Iran", he said. Portugal's second group game against Iran
on Saturday will be played in a stadium with the roof closed. The heat and distracting shadows of the central giant screen at the Frankfurt Commerzbank Arena are at the basis of the decision. Scolari
broke a record Sunday: that of most consecutive victories (eight) in world Cup Finals. He had seven with Brazil in the last World Cup, and now one with Portugal. Sunday also marked goalkeeper Ricardo's 50
th appearance. 12/06/06 Portugal got off to a winning start in Germany Sunday, beating Angola 1-0, although their global performance left a lot to be
desired. In a first half dominated by Portugal, Pauleta
got the single goal on four minutes after a superb run to the line by Figo. The second half was more even, although Angola rarely threatened. The result puts Portugal on equal points with Mexico in Group D
, the Central American side beating Iran 3-1. Of the 46,000 seats in the Rhein Energie stadium in Cologne, it is estimated that around 25,000 were for Portugal fans, while around 10,000 went to Angolan
supporters. Luíz Felipe Scolari
said: "Angola didn't make it easy for us. If they continue like that, they're contenders for qualifying, because the teams are very similar. We had various chances, but didn't take them. It was a complicated game, as we expected. The early goal gave us a bit of tranquillity, and afterwards we had three or four chances, but we couldn't get a second goal. Angola improved in the second half and got on top. That's why I put some midfielders on. The first game is the most important. There are things in this team's history that are different. In the last World Cup, we conceded three goals in the first game. In Euro 2004 we lost the first game. We have to overcome some things that follow this team. We did some tests and thought it wise not to play Deco. If we want to continue in the World Cup, we have to use players who are fit. If we were playing against Mexico and it was fundamental for qualification, Deco would play, but we've still got two games and there are players for his position. I brought Cristiano Ronaldo off because I had to fill up the midfield. We have three points advantage over Iran. If we win, we've practically eliminated that opponent. Let's see what happens.
Man of the Match Luís Figo
was pleased with the result and pre-empted any criticism of the pale display: "As we predicted, the game was difficult. We started well, putting the pressure on, and scored early, and that was important for us. In the second half, we shared the game with Angola. We dropped our rhythm, but that's normal. The press is always critical ... they see the negative things but not the positive. Maybe they were expecting us to win by five or six, but the results in the World Cup have always been close … The team was at the appropriate level for the first game. Angola have quality. Maybe a lot of people thought it would be easy, but it wasn't."
The teams lined up: Portugal: Ricardo, Miguel, Fernando Meira, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Petit (Maniche 71), Tiago (Hugo Viana 81), Cristiano Ronaldo (Costinha 59), Figo, Simão, Pauleta.
Angola: João Ricardo, Loco, Jamba, Kali, Delgado, André, Figueiredo (Miloy 79); Zé Kalanga (Edson 69), Mateus, Mendonça, Akwá (Mantorras 58). 11/06/06 Portugal
take the field in Germany Sunday against Angola, a former colony. European Unon President José Manuel Durão Barroso visited the Selecção
Saturday and said that the national team should not suffer from an inferiority complex. "The sky's the limit!", he said. The team bus taking the Selecção from Marienfeld to Cologne was
delayed one and a half hours due to an accident on the autobahn, leading FPF president Gilberto Madaíl
to complain about the lack of a police escort: "If a situation like this happened at home, they'd say that Portugal was a third-world country." 09/06/06 Deco
has recovered from a thigh injury that needed an ice-pack after Thursday's training session, following an impetuous challenge from former FC Porto team mate Costinha. The frustrated Barça midfielder kicked
out at a chair on his way from the training ground to the hotel. Portugal's starting line-up
for the opener against Angola Sunday should, barring accidents, be: Ricardo, Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Fernando Meira, Nuno Valente, Costinha, Petit, Deco, Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pauleta, although Scolari
insists that he will only be able to name the team on Sunday. Scolari said Friday that if Portugal were to lose the opener, they would be "in a desperate situation", because it would leave
them probably needing to win the last two group games against Iran and Mexico, and even that might not be enough. FPF president Gilberto Madaíl
addressed the squad Thursday, and hinted at the type of behaviour expected, on and off the field: "I don't ask anything of you in particular in terms of results, but I do ask you to dignify the name of Portugal. I know that this is going to happen, and in the moments of joy and difficulty, the Portuguese people will be proud to be represented by this brilliant group.
08/06/06 Paulo Ferreira has returned to Portugal until Thursday to be present at the birth of his son.
Nuno Gomes has said that he will shave off his (long) hair if Portugal win
the World Cup. 06/06/06 The Selecção trained for one and a half hours Monday ... in front of 12,500
people at the training ground. Many people were shut out, and free vouchers for entry into the ground were being sold on for up to 50 euros. Jorge Larrionda
of Uruguay will referee Portugal's first game on Sunday against Angola. 05/06/06 The Portugal squad have Sunday in Marienfeld, their base for the World
Cup, and there was light training for those who played in Saturday's game against Luxembourg. The team bus was escorted to the hotel from the airport by hundreds of motorbikes, and fans had formed a human chain
for the last few kilometres. But the players were largely cool towards the fans, which generated a little bad feeling. 04/06/06 Portugal
won their last game before the World Cup proper Saturday, beating minnows Luxembourg (who had previously lost to Germany 7-0) 3-0
at Metz's Saint Symphorien stadium. Embarrassingly, in front of 20,000 Portuguese emigrants, Portugal struggled in the first half, and it was Luxembourg who had the best chance, Joaquim looping a header from the edge of the box aganst the bar. But while people were still bringing their hot-dogs back to their seats after the break, Portugal were ahead, sub
Simão
following up other sub Hélder Postiga's shot, parried by Joubert, to head home. Portugal were more comfortable in the second half than the first, when the midfield had lost and awful lot of ball, and extended their lead on 73 minutes,
Simão getting his second from the spot after a foul on Figo. It was Figo, Portugal's man of the match, who got the third five minutes from time, chesting down a Hugo Viana through ball and prodding
expertly home under pressure. The game was a little rough at times, the referee reluctant to show cards throughout. But Cristiano Ronaldo
was shown a yellow on 33 minutes when he reacted to a bad challenge from Strasser by slapping the Luxembourg captain, and on 70 minutes, the Portuguese winger poked Schnell
in the eye as both went for the ball near the line. In the World Cup proper Ronaldo will see red for similar acts. Coach Luíz Felipe Scolari has told him that he must keep his head. "I'm sorry, and I hope it doesn't happen again", was Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction.
Portugal lined up: Ricardo, Miguel, Fernando Meira (Ricardo Costa, 59m), Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Costinha (Petit, h-t), Maniche (Tiago, 67); Figo, Deco (Simão, h-t), Cristiano
Ronaldo (Hugo Viana, 70); Pauleta (Hélder Postiga, h-t).
Subs not used: Quim, Paulo Santos, Paulo Ferreira, Caneira, Boa Morte, Nuno Gomes. As the Selecção
left Portugal on their way to Luxembourg, Luíz Felipe Scolari
set his sights lower than might have been expected with respect to Portugal's chances in Germany: "If we're seventh in the world [the FIFA rankings] in a competition with 32 clubs, we have to finish in the top eight … and after that, anything will be a bonus." Scolari also addressed the question of the players' days off and what they can do with them: "I don't want to know where they go and who they're with. They only have to respect some rules and be careful in some situations, like drink and drugs."
31/05/06 It was the the Selecção's last day of training in the searing heat of the Alentejo (38º) Tuesday. Luís Boa Morte, just back from injury,
returned to training apart form the other players. The squad visited Évora City Hall in the morning. In the afternoon they were visited by some of the players from the squad that came third in 1966 ( 'Os Magriços'
), and the Prime Minister José Socrates. Asked if he thought Portugal could win the World Cup, he said: "Of course they can!" The Portuguese Assembleia da República
(Parliament) has altered its order of business for 21 June so as not to clash with Portugal's final group game against Mexico (15.00). 30/05/06
After a week at the training camp in Évora, Luís Boa Morte and Nuno Gomes, who have been nursing injuries, were finally included in the plenary session, although it was light due to the intense heat felt
in the area. Also taking part in his first session was goalkeeper Paulo Santos, who replaces Bruno Vale, injured for the U-21s. there were 500 to watch the session, mainly children from local schools.
Various tabloids ran the story of Miguel, Simão and Boa Morte,
who were seen clubbing until the early hours on the eve of their day off on Sunday. However, the Federation's press officer has said that what the players do on their day off is up to them. 28/05/06 Portugal beat former colony Cape Verde 4-1 Saturday in the Selecção's penultimate game before Germany (there is one friendly left, against Luxembourg). Ricardo
Carvalho put Pauleta
through in the first minutes to set Portugal off, but they struggled to capitalise on the lead, and it was Cape Verde who surprisingly took the game to Portugal, Lito and Cafu especially causing the Portuguese defence all sorts of problems with their pace, problems which culminated in an equaliser on 20 minutes, Cafu making the line on the right and centring for Lito to challenge and force an own goal from
Fernando Meira. It was Pauleta again, however, who put Portugal back in front, on 38 minutes, heading home a Figo corner.
The second half saw Cape Verde tiring and Portugal taking up the reins of the game. Petit drove a loose ball home from the edge of the area on the hour, and Pauleta
got his hat trick on 83 minutes to give Portugal a flattering win against a Cape Verde side that was far from a pushover, especially in the first half. The teams lined up: Portugal:
Ricardo, Miguel, Fernando Meira, Ricardo Carvalho, Caneira (Paulo Ferreira, 46), Petit (Tiago, 65), Maniche (Costinha, 46), Deco (Hugo Viana, 46), Figo (Simão, 46), Cristiano Ronaldo (Hélder Postiga, 62) and Pauleta.
Cape Verde: Ernesto (Veiga, 86), Janício, Nélson Veiga, Zé Piguita, Nando, Sandro, Vítor Moreno (Nené, 52), Emerson (Marco, 85), Lito (Hernâni, 80), Caló (Rodolfo Lima, 61) and Cafú (Dady, 72).
Goalkeeper Bruno Vale, who broke a bone in his foot during Portugal U-21s' defeat to Serbia Montenegro Thursday, will be replaced in the senior squad by Sporting Braga's Paulo Santos.
24/05/06 Cable channel Sport TV have issued a press release clarifying the ban on the transmission of World Cup games in public (see below). They now say that bars and restaurants
can show the games, but they cannot be shown on giant screens in public places like parks. 23/05/06 Cable channel Sport TV has warned that it has total rights
(along with independent channel SIC) over the airing of World Cup games. It is hoping to scare local councils, bars and restaurants from showing games to the public and says that it has the support of FIFA in this respect. "SportTV does not authorise the transmission of any television images of the FIFA World Cup 2006 (including those transmitted on an pen signal) in public places and/or giant screens," read a press release from the cable company.
The local people of Évora, 120 kms east of Lisbon, where the Selecção are in training, are up in arms. The capacity for spectators at the training ground is 550, but demand far outweighs
this. The training ground has a temporary stand, which will raise capacity to 10,000
for the friendly with Cape Verde on Saturday, but this has yet to receive the all-clear from local safety authorities, according to the FPF. National Daily Público is running a survey to see how much people agree with Luíz Felipe Scolari's squad for Germany. So far, the most popular players are Deco, Critiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Carvalho. 20/05/06
The players of the Selecção have gathered at the National Stadium
near Lisbon at the start of their World Cup adventure. Deco was a late arrival after helping Barcelona to win the Champions League on Wednesday. The players have undergone medical checks and had their first training session Friday.
Shirt numbers have been allocated: 1 - Ricardo
2 - Paulo Ferreira
3 - Marco Caneira
4 - Ricardo Costa
5 - Fernando Meira
6 - Costinha
7 - Luís Figo
8 - Petit
9 - Pauleta
10 - Hugo Viana
11 - Simão Sabrosa
12 - Quim
13 - Miguel
14 - Nuno Valente
15 - Luís Boa Morte
16 - Ricardo Carvalho
17 - Cristiano Ronaldo
18 - Maniche
19 - Tiago
20 - Deco
21 - Nuno Gomes
22 - Bruno Vale
23 - Hélder Postiga The man responsible for the physical condition of the players of the Selecção, Darlan Schneider
, said Friday that they are in better condition than at the start of Euro 2004, and that they will be in even better shape come the start of the World Cup. The FPF
has taken out a policy, costing 35,000 euros and providing 17 million of cover, to insure the players of the Selecções that will take part in the World Cup and the U-21 European Championship.
The players' suits, designed by Fátima Lopes, were unveiled Wednesday. The models were Luís Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, the former wearing the formal look (black pin-stripe), the latter more casual
(no tie). Kaz Patafta, 17, has been called up by Australia coach Guus Hiddink
as insurance against two squad players who have been injured and may not be fit in time for the World Cup. Patafta arrived at Benfica in January and made it to the B team. 16/05/06 Luíz Felipe Scolari named his squad for Germany Monday. It was a predictable choice, given Scolari's philosophy of continuity and group spirit, but by no means popular or logical:
Goalkeepers:
Ricardo (Sporting), 30 years old, 47 caps
Quim (Benfica), 30, 24 caps
Bruno Vale (Estrela da Amadora), 23, 1 cap Defenders:
Miguel (Valência), 26, 26 caps
Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), 27, 29 caps
Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), 28, 22 caps
Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), 27, 28 caps
Ricardo Costa (FC Porto), 24, 2 caps
Caneira (Sporting), 27, 12 caps
Nuno Valente (Everton), 31, 22 caps
Midfielders:
Costinha (no club), 31, 42 caps
Petit (Benfica), 29, 34 caps
Maniche (Chelsea), 28, 29 caps
Tiago (Lyon), 25, 20 caps
Deco (Barcelona), 28, 33 caps
Hugo Viana (Valência), 23, 19 caps
Figo (Inter Milan), 33, 118
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), 21, 30 caps
Boa Morte (Fulham), 28, 24 caps
Simão (Benfica), 26, 41 caps
Forwards:
Nuno Gomes (Benfica), 29, 53 caps
Pauleta (Paris Saint-Germain), 33, 80 caps
Hélder Postiga (Saint-Etienne), 23, 21 caps 14/05/06 Agostinho Oliveira named his
U-21 squad for the upcoming European Championship in Portugal, and the inclusion of Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto), João Moutinho (Sporting) and Bruno Vale
(Estrela da Amadora) mean that they will all miss out on the World Cup. The absence of Quaresma especially, widely considered as the best Portuguese player on show in this season's Liga
, is seen as a shock. Angola coach Oliveira Gonçalves has named his squad for the World Cup. Several Portugal-based players feature, all from the lower divisions except Pedro Mantorras
of Benfica, Mateus of Gil Vicente and Edson of Paços de Ferreria. They are: Marco Airosa (Barreirense), Marco Abreu (Portimonense), Kali (Barreirense), Mendonça (Varzim), Figueiredo (Varzim).
04/05/06 Luíz Felipe Scolari has revealed that he has his 23 for Germany in mind, which means he has decided on a replacement for injured central defender Jorge Andrade. He has refused to give any
clues, though, until 15 May. Wolfsburg utility player Alex, formerly of Benfica, has said that he has been contacted by Scolari to say that he would be in the squad. 03/05/06 A survey by
Marktest for TSF Radio and the national daily Diário de Notícias shows that 39% of those questioned feel that Portugal will make the final of the World Cup. 19% think that the Selecção
will reach the semi-finals, and 17.5% the quarters. 22% think that Portugal can win the Cup, but 32% say that the winners will be Brazil. 59% think that Luíz Felipe Scolari
has done a positive job, while 23% think he has done a very good job. 25/04/06 FIFA president Joseph Blatter has contacted the Portuguese Football Federation
to deny that he told a Croatian newspaper that Portuguese politicians are putting pressure on the Portugal coach Luíz Felipe Scolari to pick FC Porto 'keeper Vítor Baía
for the World Cup. Baía has not figured in Scolari's plans ever since he took over the job after the 2002 World Cup, much to the bemusement of many. 22/04/06 National coach Luíz Felipe Scolari
will announce his final squad for the World Cup on 15 May. The squad meet up two days later for medical checks and then move on to the training camp in Évora, 150 kms east of Lisbon. On 27 May, the Selecção
play a friendly against Cape Verde, and on 2 June, they fly to Luxembourg. They play Luxembourg in a friendly on 3 June (in Metz, France), and then move on to Germany on 4 May.
21/03/06 The campaign to push the image of Portugal via the Selecção's participation in the World Cup was launched in Germany Monday. Entitled 'Força Portugal', the
campaign aims to promote Portuguese companies and brands. Football Federation vice-president Ângelo Brou
said: "We're very proud that it's football that's working once again as the stimulus for the promotion of our country ... the name of Portugal is enriched whenever football is around."
24/02/06 National team coach Luíz Felipe Scolari has named his squad for the friendly against Saudi Arabia, a preparation game for the World Cup, to be played in Düsseldorf
on 1 March. There is a place for FC Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma, who has been thrilling crowds with his form this season. Returning to the goal is Benfica's Quim, who has not been playing, and out
goes Sporting Braga's Paulo Santos, who has. Costinha
also has a place, although he is training with the Dynamo Moscow's B Team after a dispute with the club. There are no places for Benfica's Simão and Nuno Gomes. Goalkeepers:
Quim (Benfica), Ricardo (Sporting).
Defenders: Nuno Valente (Everton) Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Jorge Andrade (Déportivo de la Coruña), Caneira (Sporting), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Miguel (Valência).
Midfielders: Costinha (Dynamo Moscow), Petit (Benfica), Maniche (Chelsea), Figo (Inter Milan), Tiago (Lyon), Quaresma (FC Porto), Deco (Barcelona).
Forwards:
Hélder Postiga (Saint-Etienne), Pauleta (PSG), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United). 18/02/06 Sports daily Record revealed Friday what the bonus system will be for the Selecção
in Germany. If they don't pass the group stage, they'll receive nothing. If they do, they'll get 10,000 euros. For reaching the quarter-finals they'll get 25,000, the semi-finals 50,000, the Final 150,000, and if they win it, they will each receive
275,000 euros. The FPF (Portuguese Football Federation) has denied that the bonus scheme has yet been decided. 04/02/06 Mexico
, in Portugal's group at the World Cup finals in Germany, are to use hypnosis to prepare the players for the tournament, it was revealed Friday. 15/01/06 State TV channel RTP
has secured from SportTv the rights to show highlights (maximum 20 minutes) of all the games at the World Cup. Commercial channel SIC has the rights to all the Portugal games. 22/12/05 The Portuguese Football Federation will begin to take applications for the purchase of World Cup tickets as of 1 January through the official FPF site (see links). Portugal
will be allocated only 8%
of the tickets for any given game, although the Federation is trying to get this number increased. For matches after the group phase, tickets are allocated on condition that Portugal get through*. Applicants can buy a maximum of
four tickets for categories 1-3, and only two for category 4, the cheapest. Prices: (Category 1 – Category 2 – Category 3 – Category 4) Portugal v Angola: 100 euros - 60 - 45 - 35
Portugal v Iran: 100 euros - 60 - 45 - 35
Portugal v Mexico: 100 euros - 60 - 45 - 35
Last 16*: 120 euros - 75 - 60 - 45
Quarter-finals*: 180 euros - 110 - 85 - 55
Semi-finals*:
400 euros - 240 - 150 - 90
3rd and 4th place*: 120 euros - 75 - 60 - 45
Final*: 600 euros - 360 - 220 - 120 16/12/05 Commercial TV channel SIC
will show 13 games from the World Cup, and will pay 530,000 euros for each one, investment bank BANIF has revealed. 15/12/05 German euro-deputy Angelika Beer called for Iran
to be banned from next summer's World Cup Wednesday after the Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadineyad
made some openly ant-semitic comments. But FIFA have refused flatly to do any such thing as, said spokesman Andreas Herren: "We strictly separate politics and sport." Iran will be in Portugal's group
in the first phase of the tournament. 10/12/05 Portugal have been drawn in Group D for the World Cup in Germany next summer and will face Mexico, Iran
and ... their 'brothers' Angola. Portugal's first game is against Angola in Cologne. They then play Iran on 17 June in Frankfurt, and finally play group favourites Mexico
on 21 June in Gelsenkirchen. National coach Luíz Felipe Scolari
said: "We can't complain. It would be better, of course, to be abe to choose our opponents, but as it's a draw ... There was a lot of euphoria in 2002
. Everyone thought it would be easy and it ended up being a nightmare. We don't want to go through the same thing. We have to warn the fans, the people of Portugal and the players: we'll have to work hard
... Angola is a country with which we have a great relationship, but we have to play them. In a mini-championship over three games, because after that it's kill or be killed, we'll have to try to win ... I've worked in the Arab world, and although I don't know the Iranian squad very well, I have great respect for their football. I spoke to
Zico [Japan's coach] about Iran and he told me to be very careful in all respects. As for Mexico, they have terrific, high quality players." The full list of groupings is: Group A:
1. Germany
2. Costa Rica
3. Poland
4. Equador
Group B:
1. England
2. Paraguay
3. Trinidad and Tobago
4. Sweden
Group C:
1. Argentina
2. Ivory Coast
3. Serbia/Montenegro
4. Holland
Group D:
1. Mexico
2. Iran
3. Angola
4. Portugal
Group E:
1. Italy
2. Ghana
3. United States
4. Czech Republic
Group F:
1. Brazil
2. Croatia
3. Australia
4. Japan
Grupo G:
1. France
2. Switzerland
3. South Korea
4. Togo
Group H:
1. Spain
2. Ukraine
3. Tunisia
4. Saudi Arabia The whole shebang kicks off on 9 June with Germany versus Costa Rica in Munich. 09/12/05 The Portuguese squad will stay at the Klosterpforte hotel complex in
Marienfeld during their participation in next summer's World Cup. 07/12/05 Portugal have been placed in Pool 3 for the World Cup
draw to be made later this month. the draw means that they cannot meet Croatia, Holland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland or Ukraine at the group stage. Pool 1:
Germany, England, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico;
Pool 2:
Australia, Angola, Ivory Coast, Equador, Ghana, Paraguay, Togo, Tunisia;
Pool 3:
Croatia, Holland, Poland,
Portugal, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine.
Special Pool:
Serbia-Montenegro
Pool 4:
Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Costa Rica, United States, Iran, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago.
02/12/05 Cable channel SportTv will show all the games of the World Cup Finals, but it has negotiated with terrestrial channel SIC
to allow it to show 13 or 14 games, including all those involving the Portuguese National Team. SportTv is obliged by Portuguese law to cede the rights to a number of the games to a terrestrial channel. |
