A2: Czech Republic 1 - 3 Portugal - 11/06/08 - TalkSoccer

**Trim** · 07-06-2008, 08:58 PM

Euro 2008, Group A
Czech Republic v Portugal

Stadium: Stade de Genève, Geneva
Kick-off: Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 18.00h

**Vargas_4** · 08-06-2008, 02:06 AM

Portugal will bag this one.

Switzerland was giving the Czech all kinds of troubles and managed to get lucky and get a goal to obtain all 3 points.

I'm sure Portugal will win.

Portugal 3 - 1 Czech Republic

**jec1** · 08-06-2008, 06:37 AM

This time, Quaresma will come in for Ronaldo, not Nani!

**SOMOSBENFICA** · 08-06-2008, 01:05 PM

They might have to go with either Simao or Quaresma/ Nani on the wings and Ronaldo playing a roaming center position. I have no faith in Gomes because he hits the post or miss the target to many times.

ramos · 09-06-2008, 01:49 PM

queresma for simao, simao was poor IMO.

Ferreira is also a liability in defense. when will we find a good LB?

**jec1** · 09-06-2008, 09:25 PM

Huh? Simao was good not poor.... Quaresma will be subbed in for Ronaldo or Simao, depends on the score line.

Miguel Veloso should replace Ferreira at LB, I've said this all along.... If he isn't given an opportunity to play DM alongside is amigo, Moutinho -- PLAY HIM AT LB.

**Lemmy** · 09-06-2008, 11:54 PM

this will be Portugal's toughest match in the group stages. It will be a tie or Portugal barely wins

ramos · 10-06-2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jec1

Huh? Simao was good not poor.... Quaresma will be subbed in for Ronaldo or Simao, depends on the score line.

Miguel Veloso should replace Ferreira at LB, I've said this all along.... If he isn't given an opportunity to play DM alongside is amigo, Moutinho -- PLAY HIM AT LB.

I dont think simao created much at all.

Has Veloso played LB for Sporting before?

**Oliver_Kahn** · 10-06-2008, 08:47 PM

Apparently Scolari is considering playing Meira in midfield instead of either Petit or Moutinho.

I understand what he is thinking, if he replaces Petit. The Czechs are very physical and very strong in the air, but Meira offers close to nothing going forward as he can't pass properly, whereas Petit can send a few decent long balls.

Dropping Moutinho would be a bad mistake IMO, specially if we play Deco- Meira-Petit. 2 DM's, one of which doesn't go forward and the other doesn't have much creativity, so we'd rely too much on Deco and the Czechs would easily neutralize him by putting Galasek and someone else double-teaming on Deco.

We should start with the same line-up, even though Simão was shit. Quaresma should come on close to the 60th minute for Simão, regardless of the score. If we're losing, bring on Almeida for Deco on the 70th min. If we're winning, bring on Meira for Nuno Gomes on the 75th min.

Força Portugal!

**jec1** · 10-06-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Apparently Scolari is considering playing Meira in midfield instead of either Petit or Moutinho

Good move! We do need size. Scolari's sticking with the same team, there is no need for change. I'd like to see Quaresma in place of Simao and it would look alike Alves might get some playing time .

**lionel** · 11-06-2008, 09:43 AM

Meira? the CB of stuttgart? I didn't know he can play in midfield...

anyone I talk to him about portugal says "why isn't quaresma playing???"
lol..
I think its time to see him.

this match is a good test for portugal against a solid defensive team...

**Trim** · 11-06-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Group A winners clash

Both Portugal and the Czech Republic could make a decisive step towards the quarter-finals when they clash in Geneva on Thursday (18:00).

The Czechs want to link to their 1-0 success from the last clash with Portugal. Back at the EURO 1996 the Czechs had won the quarter-final thanks to Karel Poborsky's stunning goal.

Galasek demands improvement

"It's mandatory that we keep a clean sheet and take the smallest chance we get up front", former HSV player Tomas Ujfalusi said.

That sounds like the match summary from the 1-0 win over Switzerland in the Czechs' opening game, but 1. FC Nürnberg captain Tomas Galasek insisted that "we have to improve considerably."

Jarolim on the bench?

Karel Brückner is expected to change his starting eleven: "It's possible to change a winning team", the Czech coach said. Marek Matejovsky could take the place of HSV star David Jarolim.

Czech record goalgetter Jan Koller is expected to stay in the starting eleven, however, despite the winning goal his replacement Vaclav Sverkos scored against Switzerland.

Deco warns against complacency

Portugal were more impressive than the Czechs in their opening game, beating Turkey 2-0, but Deco warns against complacency.

"The Czechs had problems in their opening game, but that doesn't mean anything. We mustn't underestimate them, and we won't", the Barcelona midfielder declared.

Line-ups as expected:

Czech Republic: 1 Cech - 2 Grygera, 21 Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, 6 Jankulovski - 4 Galasek, 3 Polak - 20 Plasil, 17 Matejovsky, 7 Sionko - 9 Koller

Portugal: 1 Ricardo - 4 Jose Bosingwa, 15 Pepe, 16 Ricardo Carvalho, 2 Paulo Ferreira - 8 Petit, 10 Joao Moutinho - 7 Cristiano Ronaldo, 20 Deco, 11 Simao - 21 Nuno Gomes

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

**Oliver_Kahn** · 11-06-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lionel

Meira? the CB of stuttgart? I didn't know he can play in midfield...

anyone I talk to him about portugal says "why isn't quaresma playing???"
lol..
I think its time to see him.

this match is a good test for portugal against a solid defensive team...

For me, Meira is a better DM than CB..

Quaresma doesn't play because Scolari has his favorites and he never liked Quaresma (hence Luis fucking Boa Morte was called up instead of Quaresma for the world cup). I bet he is on the team purely because of his name and he knows how he'd be crucified if Quaresma wasn't on the team. Also, I'm pretty sure he'll play Quaresma in a pointless match and on the last 15mins so that Quaresma isn't motivated to play, therefore fails, so Scolari can prove his point that Quaresma shouldn't start.

I love my conspiracy theories

NJ10 · 11-06-2008, 11:39 AM

Surely Moutinho can't be dropped after his performance in the first game. He was superb.

ramos · 11-06-2008, 01:05 PM

I hope Scolari is saving Queresma for the next stage of the tournament.

Queresma will unleash hell when he does play! But I can see why he trusts Simao more than Q man, Q man is inconsistant for Portugal, and can get himself into trouble with refs. His attitude needs to improve, and he needs to chase back more.