World Cup 2006 Group D Preview: Portugal
What price Portugal to reach another major tournament final this summer after their heroics in front of their own crowds in Euro 2004? With Luiz Felipe Scolari turning his back on the England job there is every chance that the Portuguese can continue to ride the crest of a footballing wave both their national team and club sides have jumped on in the past few years.
While many cited home advantage as being a major contributing factor to Portugal’s Euro 2004 final appearance (and subsequent defeat to underdogs Greece) there is no denying the wealth of talent Scolari has at his disposal and the World Cup pedigree he himself brings from his time as World Cup winning coach of his native Brazil.
Portugal haven’t made it out of the group stages of the World Cup since 1966 however and while the memories of Eusebio are still fresh in many minds it doesn’t take a calculator to work ot that 1966 was a long forty years ago. Whether the new breed of Portuguese superstars such as Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pauleta can emulate that greatest of Portuguese sides is open for discussion but they will surely break that forty year old duck and climb out of Group D with ease. Class will prevail and Portugal have plenty of class to spare.
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POSTED IN: Past World Cups
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