PORTUGAL LATEST NEWS

[Frank Cunha]

still in the first half
Portugal-0-Italy-2

Italian goals scored by Pinzi and Giraldino

[Frank Cunha]

end of first half
Portugal playing without 9 players that help Porto qualify to the finals of the U21 European championship
players like Tiago, Ronaldo, Ricardo Costa, Makukula, Custodio, Afonso Martins to mention a few, the new players with a lot of difficulties, I expect a turn around in the second half

[Frank Cunha]

final score
Portugal-1-Italy -3
Portugal goal scored by Joao Paulo

Portugal played a lot better in the second half,

[verde-rubro]

great vid :thumbsup:

[Carlo Ramos]

Its the new Nike Football commercial in U.K. I wasn't sure whether you guys and the rest of the world had seen it so I posted it. Its definately worth downloading, and the ending with the referee is class!!!!

Many famous faces include for Portugal: Figo, Ricardo, Pauleta, Jorge Andrade, Quaresma, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Filipe Scolari. For Brazil there is Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Denilson and Diego. Also Italy's Francesco Totti and former Man Utd player Eric Cantona are featured. The stadium is FC Barcelona's Camp Nou.

OLE!!!!! :danc:

[Frank Cunha]

Portugal strikers look for chances against Italy



(Updates with injury news paras 9-11, changes dateline)

By Kevin Fylan

BRAGA, Portugal, March 30 (Reuters) - Nuno Gomes and Helder Postiga will have to make the most of any shooting practice they get when Portugal face a weakened Italian side in a Euro 2004 warm-up on Wednesday.







Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari appears settled on his team for the finals and Pauleta is once again likely to start in a lone striker's role for the tournament hosts in the spectacular new Municipal Stadium in Braga.

Gomes and Postiga should get chances at some point, however, and goals against the Italians, even with a patched-up defence, would make a convincing case for the former to win a place in the starting line-up and the latter a place in the squad.

"It's tough scoring goals against Italian defences," said Gomes, perhaps by way of reminding Scolari that he scored twice in Benfica's 4-3 defeat by Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup last week.

"Their objective is not to concede and they know how to close up, cut passing lines and mark aggressively."

Gomes looks a certainty for Scolari's squad for the finals but Postiga, who is barely featuring for his English club Tottenham Hotspur, will need to make his mark against Italy to stand a chance of being involved.

"I was a little surprised to be called up, with me not playing much for my club," said Postiga. "It's up to the coach to decide but I'm going to work hard in training and look to score goals if I play."

PROGRESS MADE

The game will also be a good chance for Scolari to see how much progress Portugal have made since he took over as coach in January 2003.

His first game in charge was a 1-0 defeat by Italy in Genoa in February last year and he will want to see far more bite from his forwards in Braga.

"We're stronger now, naturally, but I'm not worried about the result, as long as we work hard, show discipline and look for the win," Scolari said after training on Tuesday.

Portugal will be without midfielder Armando Petit because of a left thigh injury, while Rui Jorge is doubtful with a foot problem. Tiago should come into midfield, while Nuno Valente is on standby for defence.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni has more serious injury worries, with Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta all missing from his defence and most of his leading strikers also absent.

Parma's promising Matteo Ferrari and Inter's Daniele Adani should start in the centre of the back four with AC Milan's Giuseppe Pancaro making a bid to unseat Zambrotta at left-back.

Trapattoni, who has said he was willing to sign a new deal with Italy, sees Wednesday's friendly as an important part of the preparations for the finals.

"I can't wait to get to Portugal for the finals because I am convinced of our ability," he said.

"Because of injuries I have recalled some players who I have used in the past, such as (Lazio defender Giuseppe) Favalli and this will allow me to weigh up some of the alternatives."

Portugal play Greece, Spain and Russia in Group A at Euro 2004, which runs from June 12 to July 4, while the Italians are in Group C with Denmark, Sweden and Bulgaria.

Probable teams:

Portugal: Ricardo Pereira; Paulo Ferreira, Fernando Couto, Jorge Andrade, Nuno Valente; Francisco Costinha, Tiago Mendes, Rui Costa, Luis Figo, Simao Sabrosa; Pauleta Resendes

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon; Christian Panucci, Matteo Ferrari, Daniele Adani, Giuseppe Pancaro; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Mauro Camoranesi; Francesco Totti, Marco Di Vaio, Christian Vieri

Referee: Ali Aydin (Turkey)

(Additional reporting by Simon Evans)

[tyrus]

once again that fucker forgot maniche and carvalho. this guy is going to get us bonced out inthe first week of play. hey frank is this guy your brother that would explain his hate for porto players

[verde-rubro]

hey carlo i cant download it it has a file that windows meadia player does not reconize can you e-mail it or give me the address

thanks

[Carlo Ramos]

Originally Posted by Paul (verde-rubros)

hey carlo i cant download it it has a file that windows meadia player does not reconize can you e-mail it or give me the address

thanks

I am at school now but I will have a look when I get home :thumbsup:

[David]

haha, great video, havent seen it yet. Thanks :thumbsup:

[Frank Cunha]

my cousin

I lost my only brother long time ago

[Frank Cunha]

today's game to be televised by RTP international at 2.45pm eastern standard time, in the Dish ch 615, only costs 5 dollars a month

I guest they left Ricardo Carvalho and Maniche out to save it for the CL competions, can't show the teams the way we play, got have a few surprises

[Frank Cunha]

end of first half
Portugal-1-Italia-1
Nuno Valente scored the portuguese goal

the Italia goal, another defence mistake, stupid Scolari don't like to call Porto players special Ricardo Carvalho

[Jager]

Italians at this age are very well coached, probably the most prepared players under the age of 21.

[verde-rubro]

it was a freekick i dont know what planet the ref was on