Portugal- Is it our year?

[Frank Cunha]

end of the game

Portugal wins 1-0, but nothing to brag about

[Jager]

Friday, September 12, 2003

The road to Portugal

Dale Johnson

The qualifying programme for Euro 2004 wraps up on Saturday, October 11, with many nations still in the hunt for a place in the finals in Portugal next summer. We take a look at what's at stake in each group.

Martin Laursen: Vital late strike (AdamDavy/Empics)


Click here for a full list of qualification tables

GROUP ONE

France have booked the automatic place with a perfect record from their seven games. And Slovenia will be in the play-offs after Isreal's dismal performance over the past week ended their hopes.

GROUP TWO

Only Luxembourg are out of contention for the finals, leaving a four-way battle.

But a goal five minutes into stoppage time from Denmark's Martin Laursen has all but ended Romania's hopes of making the finals - even though they top the group.

Romania have already completed their campaign, and have to rely on other results. They would already have secured top spot, but a dramatic turn of events, namely Laursen's equaliser on Wednesday night, has completely reversed their fortunes.

Due to their record against Denmark and Norway, Romania can only achieve a play-off spot if Norway fail to beat Luxembourg and Bosnia do not win at home to Denmark.

Norway, however, will be expected to gain a comfortable victory. The best they can achieve is a play-off spot, and they must also hope that Bosnia fail to win if they are to advance.

Denmark, guaranteed a play-off spot, need only a point against Bosnia to qualify and top the group. Bosnia can only qualify if they win at home to Denmark - and that will also see them top the group.

GROUP THREE

The Czech Republic's fine 3-1 win over Holland has guaranteed them a automatic place, due to the record between the two nations, condemning the Dutch to the play-offs.

GROUP FOUR

Sweden have already booked their place in Portugal thanks to their 2-0 win over Poland in Chorzow - but there will be a real battle for the play-off berth.

Latvia must win in Sweden to guarantee second place in the group. If they fail, Hungary will overtake them with a win at home to Poland.

Poland's only hope of making the play-offs is via victory in Hungary, and defeat for Latvia against the already-qualified Sweden.

A draw between Hungary and Poland will hand the play-off place to Latvia no matter what result they pick up.

GROUP FIVE

The Faroe Islands are out of the running in this group, with a home draw against Scotland all they have to show for their efforts. So are Lithuania, with their record against Iceland meaning they cannot take a place in the play-offs.

Group leaders Germany have already ensured they will at least be in the play-offs, and can secure an automatic place by avoiding defeat at home to Iceland.

Iceland, meanwhile, will probably need to win in Germany - thus topping the group - to stay in the competition. That is unless Scotland fail to win at home to part-timers Lithuania.

The Scots have to pick up three points and hope Iceland don't pull off that shock away win. If Iceland and Scotland finish level on points, the latter nation will go through on the results between the two sides.

GROUP SIX


Raul: Scored twice for Spain in their midweek home win over Ukraine (TonyMarshall/Empics)


Greece are hot favourites to finish first in the group, leading Spain by a point. They entertain Northern Ireland, who have gone a record 12 games without scoring a goal, and a win will confirm their place.

Spain look certain to settle for the play-offs as their 2-1 win a home to Ukraine on Wednesday night, thanks to a brace from Real Madrid striker Raul, means they can now not be caught.

But a shock result in Greece could still let them in. If Greece draw, then Spain must win to overtake them.

An unthinkable defeat for Greece and Spain will need only a point to go top.

Armenia and Ukraine are out of the running.

GROUP SEVEN

We all know about the permutations here, as England travel to Turkey for the big group decider. Basically, if England avoid defeat they will top the group, if Turkey win it will be they who can pack their bags for Portugal. Slovakia, Macedonia and Liechtenstein finish way behind the front two.

GROUP EIGHT

Bulgaria will be in Portgual next year after their 3-0 in Andorra ensured they would finish on top of the pile. Andorra and Estonia cannot now qualify, leaving a battle between Croatia and Belgium.

As Croatia have a better head-to-head record with Belgium, they must only match the result of their rivals. Belgium are at home to Estonia, while Croatia play host to Bulgaria. The Croats would appear to be the favourites to finish second, although they do have the harder game, and victory will ensure that.

GROUP NINE

Wales' failure to hold on to their lead at home to Finland looks to have handed Italy the automatic route to the finals. Wales would have topped of the group, leaving them needing a victory in their final game to make a rare appearance in a major finals.

But Finland grabbed a point, meaning Italy's draw in Belgrade should be enough as their last group game is at home to minnows Azerbaijan. Wales entertain Serbia & Montenegro, and can only finish top if they win and Italy somehow manage to mess up their final match.

GROUP TEN

Albania and Georgia are out of the running in this group, leaving three nations in the hunt.

If, as expected, Russia win at home to the Georgians, Ireland will have to win in the Swiss city of Basle to reach the play-offs.

Switzerland need a draw to guarantee a place in the play-offs, but will be hoping to win and go straight into the finals.

Russia only have to avoid defeat to guarantee a place in the ten-team lottery. If both they and Ireland win, it is Russia who will go through automatically due to their head-to-head record - and Switzerland will be dumped out on the final night.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=276859&cc=5739

[mr.watford]

:thumbsup:

[Frank Cunha]

10 portuguese nominated for the top 50 best in the UEFA
From 64 to 73 all SL Benfica
all part of the team the won 2 European Cups
Costa Pereira, José Águas, Germano, Coluna, José Augusto, Eusébio e José Torres.

84 to 93 Paulo Futre
94 to 03 Rui Costa and Figo
out of 250 names , 50 will make it
I know for sure Eusebio, Coluna, Jose Aguas, Paulo Futre and Figo will make the top 50

Futebol Internacional – Dez portugueses na lista de nomeados para os 50 melhores da UEFA



A UEFA divulgou hoje a lista de 250 jogadores nomeados para a escolha dos 50 melhores futebolistas europeus das últimas cinco décadas, que será feita pelos adeptos a partir de hoje, no site oficial do organismo que superintende o futebol do velho continente.


Entre os jogadores escolhidos consta o nome de dez portugueses, com o maior contingente a pertencer às décadas de 1954 a 1963 e de 1964 a 1973, com a curiosidade de todos terem pertencido ao Benfica: Costa Pereira, José Águas, Germano, Coluna, José Augusto, Eusébio e José Torres.

Nas décadas mais recentes, surgem como representantes lusos nesta escolha os nomes de Paulo Futre (década de 1984 a 1993) e de Rui Costa e Figo, estes últimos ainda no activo e incluindos no lote de futebolistas da década 1994/2003.

Numa lista que engloba os principais nomes que fizeram a história do futebol europeu ao longo dos últimos cinquenta anos, destaque, ainda, para a presença de alguns futebolistas com ligações ao futebol português, como são os casos dos guarda-redes Michel Preud’homme e Peter Schmeichel, para além do actual treinador encarnado, José António Camacho, que marca presença no lote de melhores defesas da geração de 1973 a 1984.

[Frank Cunha]

A tied should be enough but a win will be like Ice in the cake

[Frank Cunha]

Half time
Portugal-3-Slovakia-1
goals by Quaresma, Lourenco and Postiga

the goal by SlovakiA was a mistake by Hugo Luz

[goalmirivan]

, Portugal made it to the playoffs of the Euro cup of U21
Estádio Jorge Sampaio, em Pedroso (Gaia)

Árbitro: Bragi Bergmann (Islândia)

PORTUGAL – Moreira; Mário Sérgio, Ricardo Costa, João Paulo e Hugo Luz; Bosingwa, Raul Meireles (Ednilson, 74 m) e Danny (Carlos Martins, 49 m); Ricardo Quaresma (Cândido Costa, 85 m), Hélder Postiga e Lourenço.

ESLOVÁQUIA: Postrk; Hricko, Dolezaj, Demeter (Pancik, 46 m), Jan Durica; Drzik, Martin Durica, Jez e Kiska (Paulik, 85 m) e Ancic; Sestak.

Ao intervalo: 3-1

Golos: 1-0, Ricardo Quaresma (9 m); 1-1, Jez (14 m); 2-1, Lourenço (24 m); 3-1, Hélder Postiga (38 m); 4-1, Hélder Postiga (84 m).

[Frank Cunha]

SCOLARI made a change out of the starting line, Miguel, Boa Morte and Hugo Viana
In the starting lineup- Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferreira and Tiago


game to be televise on rtp international
21:10 16:10 06:10 FUTEBOL: CAMPEONATO DA EUROPA 2004 (AA)
PORTUGAL vs ALBANIA
Depois da vitória na Noruega, a nossa selecção continua a preparação para o Euro 2004

[goalmirivan]

Hugo Viana was great at his old position :danc:

[goalmirivan]

Helder Postiga two goals

[Frank Cunha]

U21 Portugal vs France in the playoffs, Portugal happy with the draw
Portugal happy with the draw, should be a good game says Gilberto Madail the FPF, we got some revenge to do with France, couldn't happen at a better time, a win and a spot in the Olympics
he says its better to play France in two games then in one, our talent in the U21 should be enough to beat France, Postiga, Hugo Viana, Moreira, Tiago, Cristiano Ronaldo, Quaresma, Bonsingwa, Lourenco, capt Ricardo Costa.

Madail e o sorteio para o «play-off» dos sub-21: «Vai ser um bom jogo»


ASF
O presidente da Federação Portuguesa de Futebol, Gilberto Madail, manifestou-se confiante nas capacidades dos jovens jogadores da selecção sub-21 de Portugal para ultrapassar a França, equipa que o sorteio de hoje ditou como adversário da equipa lusa no «play-off» de aceso ao Europeu da categoria.


«Ontem tinha dito ao José Romão [seleccionador] que não me importava de defrontar a França, por uma questão de fé e também porque acho que temos uma equipa boa e poderosa, tal como têm os franceses. Portanto acho que vai ser um bom jogo», começou por afirmar o responsável máximo da FPF.

«É sempre preferível encontrar a França em dois jogos do que defrontá-los apenas num, já durante o Europeu», prosseguiu Madail, considerando, ainda, que uma eventual eliminação da equipa francesa nesta fase da prova poderá ter efeitos bastante positivos na restante caminhada lusa rumo ao principal objectivo traçado para a selecção sub-21.

«Se eliminarmos a França – que é o que eu espero que aconteça – passaremos a ser muito mais respeitados no âmbito do nosso principal objectivo, que é a participação nos Jogos Olímpicos», explicou, não esquecendo, também, o facto de esta eliminatória poder servir para «acertarmos

[Frank Cunha]

you should see the Beira-Mar new stadium, from the city of Aveiro it looks like a circus, the first one ever made, if you look at colorful seats from afar, it looks like the stadium is always at full capacity.

[MUFC]

Frank are you going to euro 2004

[Frank Cunha]

I might go to Portugal in September, the stadiums are almost soldout, I intend to move sometime in February,

[Frank Cunha]

Portug