Portugal Vs Italy [R]

[nicodemus]

Portugal give Postiga Euro 2004 squad chance

By Kevin Fylan

LISBON, March 26 (Reuters) - Helder Postiga gets a chance to force his way into Portugal's squad for Euro 2004 after being called up for Wednesday's friendly against Italy in Braga.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari named Postiga as one of three centre-forwards in a 22-man squad on Friday, along with Pauleta and fit-again Nuno Gomes.

"The friendly matches we will have will be a chance to see if we should go with two or three strikers," Scolari said, who usually names only two out-and-out strikers.

Postiga has struggled to establish himself at Tottenham Hotspur following a 6.25-million-pound ($11.36 million) move from UEFA Cup winners Porto last year.

He last played for Portugal's full international side against Kazakhstan in August 2003. Newcastle United midfielder Hugo Viana, who made a brief appearance as a substitute in Portugal's 1-1 draw against England in February, will play in the under-21s against Italy.

Scolari has almost settled on his squad for the finals from June 12 to July 4, when the hosts will attempt to lift their first major title at full international level.

"This team is close to the one I want for Euro 2004," Scolari said on Friday. "I'm 90 percent decided on the final squad and the team is playing in my style.

"Our objective will be to reach the final and win it."

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira (Sporting), Quim Silva (Braga)

Defenders: Miguel Monteiro (Benfica), Jorge Andrade (Deportivo Coruna, Spain), Fernando Couto (Lazio, Italy), Beto Severo (Sporting), Rui Jorge (Sporting), Nuno Valente (Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Porto), Ricardo Carvalho (Porto)

Midfielders: Rui Costa (AC Milan, Italy), Luis Figo (Real Madrid, Spain), Armando Petit (Benfica), Francisco Costinha (Porto), Deco Souza (Porto), Tiago Mendes (Benfica)

Forwards: Simao Sabrosa (Benfica), Luis Boa Morte (Fulham, England), Pauleta Resendes (Paris St Germain, France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, England), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Helder Postiga (Tottenham Hotspur, England)



scholari said this is clsoe to the team hes bringing in for the euro...wheres maniche and meira?? petit isnt gonna be on it so maniche will replace him, but why is rui jorge there..hes ****!!!

quaresma and viana are ognna play on the u-21 team

my staritng lineup againt italy..we must play attacking football, use r strenghts and well break down the italian defense

...............................ricardo............ ..............
................couto.................caravalho... ..........
......ferriera.................................... ..valente...
..........................tiago................... ........
figo.............................................. ........simao
.....................deco.........r costa.....................
...........................nuno gomes...................

or

................................ricardo........... ............
...............................couto.............. ...........
.......ferriera................................and rade..............
.............deco........tiago....r costa.....................
..figo............................................ .simao...
..........................c ronaldo.........................
..........................nuno gomes..................

[F.C._Porto]

ha ha
there is no way that scolari is going to send up nuno gomes all alone on forward against Italy, not even against Kuwait. he sucks. he will probably start with two forwards, Puleta and Postiga most likely. but any ways even thought [portugal is a good team, very good team they have always had bad luck when playing against Italy, any person will tell you that Italian or POrtugues, we just play bad against them.

[Trooper]

what about costinha in the midfield?
i think portugal portugal should play on counter attack , to give figo rui costa "space" to create

[nicodemus]

what about costinha in the midfield?
i think portugal portugal should play on counter attack , to give figo rui costa "space" to create

costinha will start but i think we should give tiago a bit more experience, he was our best player last time we played italy. and i think portugal will get killed on the counter attack AGAINT ITALY. i think we need ot kepe the ball and use our skill, vision, and speed to break apart the italians, i think we have the best midfield in the world.

i was also thinking of using a 3-1-5-1(something like that)

........................................ricardo... .......................................
.......................................caravalho.. ..........................
.......................ferriera................... ........valente.........................
....................................tiago......... ................................
...figo........................................... .................simao....
..........................deco...............r costa.................
..................................c ronaldo...........................
................................pauleta........... ....................

that is a POWERFUL atack...but it might be prone to counter attacks

[nicodemus]

Portugal 1-2 Italy
Juventus FC forward Fabrizio Miccoli settled a highly entertaining match at the Estádio Municipal de Braga with a goal straight from a corner as a makeshift Italy eventually proved too strong for Portugal.

Full strength
Luiz Felipe Scolari, looking to avenge defeat by the Azzurri in his first match in charge of Portugal one year ago, fielded his strongest side, but though they started brightly, it was Italy who ultimately served warning of their UEFA EURO 2004™ ambitions.

Rui Costa shines
For Italy, Giovanni Trapattoni's main focus was on midfield where AC Milan pairing Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo started together for the Azzurri for the first time in the holding roles in a 4-2-3-1 formation. But it was the Portuguese midfield that imposed itself in the early stages, with Rui Costa outshining his Rossoneri team-mates.

Valente strikes
And on five minutes he created the opening as Portugal went ahead after a flowing move down the left. Nuno Valente broke upfield and continued his run after laying the ball off to Rui Costa. The playmaker's first-time touch put it back in Valente's path and the defender finished off by sweeping his shot under Gianluigi Buffon from seven metres.

Portugal dominate
Portugal were dominating possession and a second-string Italy defence, unusually exposed in the absence of Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro, were repeatedly stretched. On ten minutes Rui Costa put Pauleta clear on the right, but the striker sent a curling shot narrowly wide.

Italy regroup
Slowly Italy fought their way back into the match which began to open up as the rain poured down in Braga. On 28 minutes Valente deflected Francesco Totti's shot on to the crossbar, then Giuseppe Pancaro fired wide after the ball had fallen kindly for him in the area.

Vieri answer
At the other end, Simão Sabrosa headed a Luís Figo cross over the bar from close range, but it was Italy that struck next. Totti's precise cross from a free-kick picked out the on-rushing Christian Vieri who rose above Paulo Ferreira at the far post to crash a header beyond Ricardo.

Half-time changes
Each side made eight changes after the break, but to their credit the match maintained its competitive edge as two of the favourites for this summer's finals continued to play some enterprising and, at times, aggressive football.

Artistic Deco
Deco quickly made his presence felt with a dipping free-kick that Buffon did well to hold cleanly in the torrential rain, and Cristiano Ronaldo dazzled with a series of runs at the visitors' defence.

Miccoli winner
But it was the Italy substitute Miccoli who had the greatest impact, shocking an embarrassed Ricardo by scoring direct from a corner to put Italy ahead on 75 minutes.

Nuno Gomes back
Nuno Gomes' return after injury was warmly welcomed by the Braga crowd and the SL Benfica forward almost pulled Portugal level in the final minute, but Daniele Adani's terrific saving tackle as he bore down on goal confirmed an impressive victory for Italy.


****..we dominated possesion..i saw the game..and c ronaldo was brilliant :bowing ..god we DOMINATED their midfield..im soo mad!!! in the first 30 minutes it was a red tide..italy were pinned down..and then..2 crapass goals ..shows how much are defence needs works..and nuno gomes!!! that miss in the last minute brought back memories from the world cup where u missed the sitter againt korea

ahhh we had this game

[Danks]

Had it just like you did against the US, right???

Stop making excuses!
:Knob

[nicodemus]

Had it just like you did against the US, right???

Stop making excuses!
:Knob

tell that to the powerhouse HAITI :salute