Outright Odds: 22/1
Team D Winners: five/six
After a disastrous 2002 Earth Cup, through which they completed base in their team next defeats by equally The us and South Korea, Portugal might be looking to at last Reside up to their likely on the Worldwide phase.
Qualification was a breeze. They remained unbeaten of their team and finished 7 points distinct at the top. Portugal intended small business With this group, putting 11 earlier Luxembourg across two legs and hammering second-favourites Russia seven-one in your house.
The charismatic Luiz Felipe Scolari, or Massive Phil to his mates, has designed a new workforce to exchange the ageing or retired underachievers such as Rui Costa, Joao Pinto and Other people Whilst Luis Figo, now coming into veteran position and outside of retirement, will be existing in Germany. Inspite of guiding Portugal to the ultimate of Euro 2004 and emphatic World Cup qualification, the public are still not confident he is The person with the job.
The teams core is predicated about four gamers who won the Champions League with FC Porto in 2004. Defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira and midfielder Maniche now all at Chelsea and Costinha, now at Dinamo Moscow give a solid base with the assault-minded stars to play around.
Attacking gamers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao Sabrosa and naturalised Brazilian Deco compliment the side beautifully and build many probabilities for striker Pauleta. The Paris St. Germain hitman overtook Eusebios report of forty one Worldwide ambitions with a powerful haul of 11 in qualifying, making 카지노사이트 him the ecu zones prime goalscorer.
Manchester United winger Ronaldo could illuminate the finals with his capabilities and coveted action-overs. He weighed in with seven qualifying ambitions from midfield, boosting his Fantasy Soccer inventory noticeably.
Portugal have all the makings of a Globe Cup winning facet: a good defence, Remarkable quality and goalscoring opportunity from midfield and Europes deadliest striker in qualifying.
Their major downfall seems to generally be the goalkeeping situation. Sporting Lisbons Ricardo and Quim from Benfica are the two vying to the jersey Even though the supporters selection appears to be out-of-favour Vitor Baia. A veteran on the 2002 Planet Cup facet, 36-year-outdated Baia was omitted from Scolaris ultimate 23 within the Euro 2004 squad.
Proposed Wager:
The underachieving squad from the earlier have Virtually all been changed by a fresh crop of younger talent. Aged stagers Luis Figo and Pauleta will look for a final swansong, Together with the latter a seem Each and every-way wager for best goalscorer status.
Portugal to earn Team D @ five/6
E/W Pauleta as top goalscorer @ 40/1
