Outright Odds: 22/1
Group D Winners: five/6
After a disastrous 2002 Earth Cup, by which they completed base of their team subsequent defeats by both equally The us and South Korea, Portugal will probably be planning to last but not least Stay up for their likely on the Worldwide phase.
Qualification was a breeze. They remained unbeaten in their group and completed 7 points obvious at the top. Portugal intended business enterprise Within this group, putting 11 earlier Luxembourg across two legs and hammering next-favourites Russia 7-one in your house.
The charismatic Luiz Felipe Scolari, or Huge Phil to his close friends, has designed a new team to switch the ageing or retired underachievers for example Rui Costa, Joao Pinto and others While Luis Figo, now coming into veteran standing and out of retirement, are going to be existing in Germany. Regardless of guiding Portugal to the ultimate of Euro 2004 and emphatic Environment Cup qualification, the public are still not certain He's The person for your position.
The groups core is based all-around 4 players who received the Champions League with FC Porto 바카라사이트 in 2004. Defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira and midfielder Maniche now all at Chelsea and Costinha, now at Dinamo Moscow offer a solid base for the attack-minded stars to play around.
Attacking players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao Sabrosa and naturalised Brazilian Deco compliment the facet correctly and generate quite a few possibilities for striker Pauleta. The Paris St. Germain hitman overtook Eusebios file of 41 Global targets with a formidable haul of 11 in qualifying, generating him the ecu zones major goalscorer.
Manchester United winger Ronaldo could illuminate the finals together with his competencies and coveted move-overs. He weighed in with seven qualifying plans from midfield, raising his Fantasy Soccer stock substantially.
Portugal have all the makings of the Earth Cup profitable side: a reliable defence, Fantastic quality and goalscoring possible from midfield and Europes deadliest striker in qualifying.
Their major downfall seems for being the goalkeeping position. Sporting Lisbons Ricardo and Quim from Benfica are each vying for the jersey Even though the supporters selection is apparently out-of-favour Vitor Baia. A veteran of your 2002 Earth Cup side, 36-calendar year-outdated Baia was omitted from Scolaris final 23 from the Euro 2004 squad.
Advised Bet:
The underachieving squad in the earlier have Practically all been replaced by a brand-new crop of younger talent. Previous stagers Luis Figo and Pauleta will look for a closing swansong, Together with the latter a sound Each individual-way wager for major goalscorer position.
Portugal to gain Group D @ five/6
E/W Pauleta as top rated goalscorer @ forty/1