World Cup Preview - Group D - Portugal

Portugal:

Coach: Brazilian World Cup winner Luis Felipe Scolari.

Nickname: The “Selecao.”

Game Schedule:
June 11 – Portugal vs. Angola (3 p.m. EST)
June 17 – Portugal vs. Iran (9 a.m.)
June 21 – Portugal vs. Mexico (10 a.m.)

Prospects: The “Golden Generation” has passed on, replaced by a new exciting group of youngsters largely raised under Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho at Porto, including a crop of current Chelsea players such as Paulo Ferreiro, Ricardo Carvalho and Maniche. Scolari took this group all the way to the Euro 2004 final, albeit with a large dose of refereeing bias against England. They’ve got to be happy with the first round draw and should have enough quality to see off fairly weak opposition in Group D. However, lurking around the corner are the qualifiers from the “Group of Death.”

Big Media Story: Where will Scolari end up after the World Cup.

Key Player: Deco – at Barcelona, he’s merely another midfielder; however, for Portugal, he runs the show, sometimes at the risk of slowing the pace.

Youngster to watch: 21 year old Cristiano Ronaldo; the step-overs are still mighty irritating, but he’s blossomed in an exciting forward at ManYoo.

Who Will Get the Goals: PSG striker Pauleta; eleven goals in qualifying. At 33, this is his last chance for honors.

Who Will Get the Cards: Ronaldo for incessant diving.

Funniest Name: Goalkeeper Quim – his name strikes me as dirty somehow.

Prediction: Top of Group D; knocked out by the Dutch in the Round of Sixteen.

~Bob