Post by Busby Boy on Jul 1, 2006 1:55:28 GMT
As I'm not going to be here to bring the live updates of tomorrow's game I thought I'd write up a little preview.
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TEAM NEWS:
Frank Lampard and Gary Neville are available for selection as they return to give England an injury boost. Lampard picked up a knock on his ankle in injury, whilst Neville has missed the last three games through a niggling calf problem.
Cristiano Ronaldo's chances of playing are deteriorating after he missed two consecutive training sessions, the latter being Friday's, he is carrying an injured thigh which was picked up in the previous round versus Holland.
Deco and Costinha are definitely out through suspension whilst England have no suspensions and besides Owen's injury carry no injury problems into the game.
England (probable): Robinson, Neville, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Hargreaves, Gerrard, J Cole, Rooney.
Portugal (probable): Ricardo, Miguel, Carvalho, Meira, Valente, Petit, Maniche, Sabrosa, Figo, Ronaldo, Pauleta.
GAME STATS:
The game will be played under a closed roof in the AufSchalke Arena, following the English FA's requests.
Luis Felipé Scolari has masterminded England's last two exits from major tournaments. In 2002 as Brazil manager and in 2004 as Portugal manager at the European Championships.
England have met Portugal 21 TIMES and the record looks like this:
ENGLAND WIN - 9
DRAW - 9
PORTUGAL WIN - 3
England beat Portugal en route to their only World Cup trophy in 1966. Beating the Portuguese 2-1 in the semi-finals.
Portugal have NEVER won the World Cup, 2006 was the first World Cup since 1966 that they managed to progress through the group stages.
PLAYERS CARRYING CARDS:
ENGLAND: No reds; Yellows - Paul Robinson, Jamie Carragher and John Terry.
PORTUGAL: Reds - Deco & Costinha; Yellows - Petit, Maniche, Nuno Valente, Ricardo and Figo.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
WAYNE ROONEY (ENG):
The Manchester United man is desperate to get revenge for 'that' night in Lisbon where he picked up his first metatarsal injury. In the last game versus Ecuador he showed he is back to his best and Portugal should fear him.
CRISTIANO RONALDO (POR):
If he shakes off his injury Ronaldo will be desperate to impress especially against his team mates in the England defence Neville and Ferdinand. Whichever United youngster; Rooney and Ronaldo, dominates the game surely their side will progress to the next phase.
PREDICTION:
ENGLAND WIN 2-0.
Portugal's depleted squad will struggle against an England side without injuries or suspensions. Deco, Costinha and a doubt over Ronaldo removes three of Portugal's main stars and will make the English job easier but not a foregone conclusion. I see Wayne Rooney and David Beckham getting on the scoresheet with England setting up a showdown with either Brazil/France.
ERIKSSON v SCOLARI
ROONEY v RONALDO
BECKHAM v FIGO
ENGLAND v PORTUGAL
THE LISBON REMATCH!...
''FRIENDSHIP STOPS WHEN YOU CROSS THAT WHITE LINE''
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ENGLAND vs PORTUGAL
World Cup Quarter-Final, Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
1st July 2006, 4PM (BST)
Live on BBC1 & Radio FiveLive
World Cup Quarter-Final, Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
1st July 2006, 4PM (BST)
Live on BBC1 & Radio FiveLive
TEAM NEWS:
Frank Lampard and Gary Neville are available for selection as they return to give England an injury boost. Lampard picked up a knock on his ankle in injury, whilst Neville has missed the last three games through a niggling calf problem.
Cristiano Ronaldo's chances of playing are deteriorating after he missed two consecutive training sessions, the latter being Friday's, he is carrying an injured thigh which was picked up in the previous round versus Holland.
Deco and Costinha are definitely out through suspension whilst England have no suspensions and besides Owen's injury carry no injury problems into the game.
England (probable): Robinson, Neville, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Hargreaves, Gerrard, J Cole, Rooney.
Portugal (probable): Ricardo, Miguel, Carvalho, Meira, Valente, Petit, Maniche, Sabrosa, Figo, Ronaldo, Pauleta.
GAME STATS:
The game will be played under a closed roof in the AufSchalke Arena, following the English FA's requests.
Luis Felipé Scolari has masterminded England's last two exits from major tournaments. In 2002 as Brazil manager and in 2004 as Portugal manager at the European Championships.
England have met Portugal 21 TIMES and the record looks like this:
ENGLAND WIN - 9
DRAW - 9
PORTUGAL WIN - 3
England beat Portugal en route to their only World Cup trophy in 1966. Beating the Portuguese 2-1 in the semi-finals.
Portugal have NEVER won the World Cup, 2006 was the first World Cup since 1966 that they managed to progress through the group stages.
PLAYERS CARRYING CARDS:
ENGLAND: No reds; Yellows - Paul Robinson, Jamie Carragher and John Terry.
PORTUGAL: Reds - Deco & Costinha; Yellows - Petit, Maniche, Nuno Valente, Ricardo and Figo.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
WAYNE ROONEY (ENG):
The Manchester United man is desperate to get revenge for 'that' night in Lisbon where he picked up his first metatarsal injury. In the last game versus Ecuador he showed he is back to his best and Portugal should fear him.
CRISTIANO RONALDO (POR):
If he shakes off his injury Ronaldo will be desperate to impress especially against his team mates in the England defence Neville and Ferdinand. Whichever United youngster; Rooney and Ronaldo, dominates the game surely their side will progress to the next phase.
PREDICTION:
ENGLAND WIN 2-0.
Portugal's depleted squad will struggle against an England side without injuries or suspensions. Deco, Costinha and a doubt over Ronaldo removes three of Portugal's main stars and will make the English job easier but not a foregone conclusion. I see Wayne Rooney and David Beckham getting on the scoresheet with England setting up a showdown with either Brazil/France.
ERIKSSON v SCOLARI
ROONEY v RONALDO
BECKHAM v FIGO
ENGLAND v PORTUGAL
THE LISBON REMATCH!...
''FRIENDSHIP STOPS WHEN YOU CROSS THAT WHITE LINE''
