Last update 6 April, 2024 by Alberto Llopis
Portugal has long been the cradle of talented players. A small country located on the Iberian Peninsula and neighboring Spain, It has a high percentage of players level despite not having a lot of population. Players like Futre, Rui Costa, Deco, Figo, Vitor Baia or Simao have excelled in recent years but above two Outliers, the best that has given this sport, the great Eusebio and Cristiano Ronaldo, the greatest exponent of this generation. Con 29 years, World is presented as the biggest challenge of the race for the final winner of the Golden Ball.
Lusa selection has a lot of quality up center field but perhaps has its weakest points in the defense and the goal. To give you an idea, in the above lines have players like Moutinho (Monaco), Quaresma (Port), Meireles (Fenerbahce), Nani (Manchester United), Varela (Benfica) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid). Meanwhile, most prominent players on defense are the players of Real Madrid, Pepe and Coentrão or those of Valencia, Ricardo Costa and Joao Pereira.
Portugal comes as favorite to second place in its group. Drawn in Group G alongside Germany, Ghana and the US, lusos they should fight the first place against the Germans but in a World Cup, the smaller rival can give more than a scare and especially Americans are no longer the weak team in Italy 90 the USA 94.
Strengths:
Cristiano Ronaldo's hunger: player of Real Madrid is his 29 years before which it is possibly his last chance to make it big in the World. With the Golden Ball 2013 and in their hands, where do you want to devote the greatest. Ambition and hunger is not lacking.
Players attack: We've said before, Portugal has a lot of firepower in recent 3/4 extreme fast field and goal.
Experience: Luso picture is a veteran cadre. Practically, the age of the block debate among 25 and the 32 years and lead and several major tournaments together. They reached the semi-finals of the last European Championship 2012.
Weak points:
La portería: the level of the Portuguese goalkeeper is not very high. It has never been a country with a tradition of good goalkeepers and Vitor Baía safe, Portuguese football has not given a doorman at an acceptable level.
A fragile defense : If Portugal has a lot “traca” arriba, down opposite. The Portuguese defense is not level. There may suffer.
Alignment:
Coach:
An old Portuguese international and former acquaintance of the Spanish League will be in charge of guiding the destinies of Portugal in the World Cup in Brazil 2014. Defensive midfielder, made most of his career in the Portuguese football unless a period of four years at Real Oviedo in the Spanish League. As Portugal coach faces his second major tournament after Euro 2012 where the Portuguese selection was a semifinalist. Despite qualifying in a tough repechage against Sweden, Portuguese Federation trusts him and has renewed until 2016.
Honors:
-3Th place World England 1966
-2Th place European Championship 2004
-4Th place World Germany 2006
-4Th place European Championship 2012