Portugal played bad (again), specially in the second half.

We don't have many alternatives to our starting 11 and that showed off today. The defense was schoking, in particular Caneira (Valencia wants to sell him )

Simao was the best portuguese player, in my opinion.

Mexico played a good gamea and was unlucky.

I've been really imporessed by the Portuguese; they are a team nobody wants to play. Portugal to go all out to win as I cannot see the Dutch getting ahead of Argentina.

You are more optimistic than most portuguese.

Or you are just being ironic!

Don't tell me you took this long to realize that Crouch isn't that good?

Fair result today.

England was better on the first half (cole's goal was brilliant) and Sweden was better in the second.

But England offered the second goal to Sweden. Didn't make much diference but that mistake was too stupid for a WC team.

I'm waiting to see what will happen.

I was more confident before. Now I doubt that something will happen to these clubs. It's too much power involved!!

Well, here is my review for the upcoming group D match.

By now, I don't think there is no need to make a summary of both teams.

If you want one of Portugal, Just click

Anyway, Portugal is already qualified and Mexico only needs a draw to pass (it can also lose, if Angola doesn't win).

The scenario is scary: the teams that pass this group will face the group C teams, Argentina or Holland. By now, half of the world, even brazilian fans, fear Argentina. But it could happen that Holland finishes first. So, to which place should you fight for? First or second?

And the main problem is that, by the time the game is held, it is not yet known who finished first or second of the previous called "group of death".

One curious aspect of this game is that Portugal might want to help Angola finish second by winning the game.

Portugal is going to rest several players, most of them to avoid a second yellow card: Nuno Valente, Costinha, Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pauleta. Figo should also go to the bench to get some rest.

So, the start line up should be like this(4-2-3-1):

Ricardo (GK)

Miguel or Paulo Ferreira

Ricardo Carvalho

Fernando Meira

Caneira

Petit

Maniche

Tiago or Hugo Viana

Boa Morte

Simão Sabrosa

Nuno Gomes or Helder Postiga

On Mexico's side, Borgetti, their star stricker will miss the game. La Volpe will probably present their best eleven available as they already said that they will enter the game to win it instead of settling for a draw. There is a slight possibility of La Volpe resting the 3 players that have yellow cards (Salcido, Torrado and Pineda).

Oswaldo Sanchéz (GK)

Carlos Salcido

Rafael Márquez

Ricardo Osorio

Mario Méndez

Gerardo Torrado

Zinha

Pavel Pardo

Gonzalo Pineda

Guillermo Franco

Omar Bravo

My prediction:

The last time Portugal found themselves in this situation, of being able to rest some players in the starting 11 was in the Euro 2000, in the game against Germany. It ended 3-0 for Portugal and Sergio Conceição did the match of his life.

Other interesting point: last time a portuguese team played in Gelsenkirchen, FC Porto won Champions league. Result 3-0.

So now, I want the same: 3-0 for Portugal (Simão, Nuno Gomes and Petit to score) and Angola passes in second after they beat Iran 1-0, Mantorras to score.

Reports are sayingthat Sven is going to rest Lamps and Gerrard for Hargreaves and Jenas!! Now i can understand resting one of them but in my opinion Jenas shouldn't be anywhere near the England team. It also says he's going to go with a diamond formation in a four man midfield!

If this is true i cant see us beating Sweden! Which means Germany in the second and Argentina in the quarters? Hoorah for Sven!!

The problem is that both have yellow cards and if they see another one, they can't play in the last 16 game.

Peter crouch is in the same situation.

I understand what you mean.

And the dilema is bigger for Portugal cause we play directly with group C where Argentina is.

But when we play, we don't know who will finish first.

At least 5 portuguese players will go to the bench (Nuno Valente, Costinha, Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pauleta) and possibly Figo as well. So we won't present our best side and we might end in 2nd.

Anyway, I think there's hype around the Argentinian squad. It's true they won 6-0 but in the first game they didn't play that well. And there is also Spain who beat Ukraine 4-0 and people don't remember that.

On the other hand, the big teams prepared to reach the highest form when the last 16 starts, so it's too early too fear anyone.

Tough luck for England?

Portugal has to "chose" between playing against Holland or Argentina. We have beaten Holland in the past but Argentina seems to be the team that everyone fears.

last 16 England v Germany

QF plays the winner of Argentina v Mexico

and waiting in the SF will be the winner of Italy v Brazil because they will presumably have beaten the winner of S Korea v Tunisia.

Correction:

-If it stays like it is now:

Last 16 England vs Germany

QF plays the winner of Portugal vs Holland

Semi plays one of these 4: Brasil vs Czeck Republic and Spain vs France

So Argentina only in the final!

Got to agree with you Lubez.

I play with a few guys from that region, great players, great skills, but when it goes t1ts up, for them, it's who on my own side can I blame.

Chemistry, or lack of it, sums it up.

Couldn't agree more.

Wonderful and touching tribute, Rover groo.

RIP Eddie!

I'm really happy for Angola.

I still have hope that they'll pass in second place.

João Ricardo, the Angola GK, elected the Man of the match, doesn't have a club.

The political problems might have had an influence in Serbia and Montenegro perfomance today.

If some players play for the love of their country, these ones don't know which country they are playing for.

And, when things go bad, everyone blames the other...

Great photos, American!

Say a little pray for me as I try to get decently priced tickets to this game.

Boa sorte!

And try the portuguese community. Maybe they can get you something.

They are a lot in Germany and I'm sure they would help another Portugues

Flopsy, in Germany during the WWII, there were underground movements to inform people of what was going on in the war.

One of them was known as "White Rose". Their members tried to inform people of what was happening and were executed 24 hours after their "trial".

Just to put in perspective, should people treat USA and England people bad just because your leaders decided to invade a country on a false purpose?

I was in holland recently and i wore my rovers shirt and training gear there. Both have Lonsdale written on it.

So they now probably think I'm a nazy

Maybe that's why I wasn't lucky with the ladies... or maybe it was just my looks...

Same happened in the EUro2004.

Me and my friends went to Germany last game with some tickets that some german guys gave to us. No one checked it.

And Mushy got me a ticket also from en english mate and no one checked it either.

I'm a positive guy!

The last time the two teams met things didn't go that well.

it all started when the referee didn't sent off a portuguese player (happens too many times in friendlies). After that, the Angola players started getting violent and some were sent off. The game ended with fake injuries (I think).

My prediction:

Portugal 2, Angola 1

Simao Sabrosa and Petit for Portugal

Mantorras for Angola

All Benfica players!!!

I prefer MGP's goal because it is a great team goal with a superb finishing.

<Where are the other Mill Hills that means our Mill Hill has to have (lancs) after it?>

One is NW London (near Edgeware)

I know that area rather well. Very nice place to live in.

Out of the cup.

Lost 2-3, could have gone to extra time.

I think the main problem was before the match. The whole controversy with the linesman (who was replaced by another one), the way Barça got to the final (ref decisions helped them to beat Milan and even Benfica)...

So Arsenal players were already ready to protest...

For the first time, I got to the fifth round of my cup.

In my div 5, i'm 5th. Tough job ahead.

Currently gathering money to strenghten the squad.