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Chitchat The Official TCSS Thread
- Thread starter Alamaking
- Start date
I hope Iceland frustrate France into ET and then beat them on penalties. Yeah tall order i know.
Tall order but not impossible. Centreback Adil Rami is suspended and his replacement may be Man City star Mangala.
By Gabriele Marcotti
from espnfc.com
Portugal manager Fernando Santos seeks the ideal formula versus Poland
PARIS -- Portugal manager Fernando Santos has a problem. Of all the Euro 2016 quarterfinalists, his team is the only one not to put together a signature 90 minutes thus far.
Germany, Italy, Iceland, Belgium and Wales have enjoyed resounding wins. France, despite inconsistency, have had the emotional oomph of a come-from-behind victory (and a devastating one, at that, against Republic of Ireland). Poland can always go back to the group stage and the way they battled mighty Germany to a standstill -- and might have got more out of that game.
But Portugal is a different story. The record after 90 minutes reads: four games, zero wins. The fact that they got this far at all is all down to that improbable, late, late extra-time winner from Ricardo Quaresma against Croatia.
(And that came at the end of a turgid affair, which epitomized just how two talented teams, who fear elimination more than they hunger for victory, can provide more than 100 minutes of nothingness.)
Portugal feel like a team who are searching without knowing exactly what they are looking for. When you have a player like Cristiano Ronaldo up front, the standard recipe is to not worry too much about him and make sure the pieces around him are working and doing the basic stuff: not conceding goals and getting him the ball where he can make a difference. And if it takes Ronaldo a while to get going, so be it.
And it has taken him a while to get going -- he had tons of opportunities in Portugal's first two games -- and although he scored two goals against Hungary, he was more of an intermittent presence against Croatia. But that's fine; you're not going to drop him, and you know he can catch fire at any time if he's fit, and he appears to be.
Portugal's issues are primarily in midfield. Fernando Santos has changed his foursome -- he even turned to a three-man alignment on one occasion, putting Quaresma up front -- in every game. Only Andre Gomes has been ever present in the middle of the park, and he has been inconsistent.
Meanwhile, Joao Moutinho started the first three matches and was dropped for the Croatia game, mainly because he's not contributing the way he should. Danilo was first-choice in the opener versus Iceland and then made way for William Carvalho. Joao Mario also started the first game, then he was benched against Austria, and then he returned. Oh, and the much-hyped, Bayern Munich-bound Renato Sanches has only made substitute appearances.
Right now, Fernando Santos is like a guy trying to remember his four-digit combination lock: He's the one who will turn his midfield into an entity capable of providing cover for the back four and, crucially, setting up Nani and Ronaldo up front.
Most likely, that's where Thursday's clash with Poland will be won or lost. Portugal's defence, led by a resurgent Pepe, matches up well against Robert Lewandowski and Arkadiusz Milik -- at least the version seen in this tournament -- and Raphael Guerreiro has arguably been one of the top left-backs at the Euros.
Up front, if "ordinary Ronaldo" shows up against a unit that has conceded just once in this tournament -- and that was through Xherdan Shaqiri's wonder strike -- then he'll need plenty of service. (If "superstar Ronaldo" turns up, well, then it won't matter much.)
Meanwhile, Adam Nawalka's crew have largely flown under the radar until this point, despite getting effusive praise from Joachim Low after their draw with Germany. Plenty have focused on Poland's tactical solidity and defensive stinginess, but they also play with an intensity that's straight out of Antonio Conte's playbook. What's been missing thus far is the offensive output from the front two but, in true Nawalka style, the pair find ways to contribute off the ball even when not scoring.
In other words, this is another tough nut for Portugal to crack. Fernando Santos had better hope he either finds the midfield combination he needs or Ronaldo has one of those Ronaldo-like days. Otherwise, it could be a long, unpleasant night in Marseille, France ... just like Portugal's Euro 2016 thus far.
from espnfc.com
Portugal manager Fernando Santos seeks the ideal formula versus Poland
PARIS -- Portugal manager Fernando Santos has a problem. Of all the Euro 2016 quarterfinalists, his team is the only one not to put together a signature 90 minutes thus far.
Germany, Italy, Iceland, Belgium and Wales have enjoyed resounding wins. France, despite inconsistency, have had the emotional oomph of a come-from-behind victory (and a devastating one, at that, against Republic of Ireland). Poland can always go back to the group stage and the way they battled mighty Germany to a standstill -- and might have got more out of that game.
But Portugal is a different story. The record after 90 minutes reads: four games, zero wins. The fact that they got this far at all is all down to that improbable, late, late extra-time winner from Ricardo Quaresma against Croatia.
(And that came at the end of a turgid affair, which epitomized just how two talented teams, who fear elimination more than they hunger for victory, can provide more than 100 minutes of nothingness.)
Portugal feel like a team who are searching without knowing exactly what they are looking for. When you have a player like Cristiano Ronaldo up front, the standard recipe is to not worry too much about him and make sure the pieces around him are working and doing the basic stuff: not conceding goals and getting him the ball where he can make a difference. And if it takes Ronaldo a while to get going, so be it.
And it has taken him a while to get going -- he had tons of opportunities in Portugal's first two games -- and although he scored two goals against Hungary, he was more of an intermittent presence against Croatia. But that's fine; you're not going to drop him, and you know he can catch fire at any time if he's fit, and he appears to be.
Portugal's issues are primarily in midfield. Fernando Santos has changed his foursome -- he even turned to a three-man alignment on one occasion, putting Quaresma up front -- in every game. Only Andre Gomes has been ever present in the middle of the park, and he has been inconsistent.
Meanwhile, Joao Moutinho started the first three matches and was dropped for the Croatia game, mainly because he's not contributing the way he should. Danilo was first-choice in the opener versus Iceland and then made way for William Carvalho. Joao Mario also started the first game, then he was benched against Austria, and then he returned. Oh, and the much-hyped, Bayern Munich-bound Renato Sanches has only made substitute appearances.
Right now, Fernando Santos is like a guy trying to remember his four-digit combination lock: He's the one who will turn his midfield into an entity capable of providing cover for the back four and, crucially, setting up Nani and Ronaldo up front.
Most likely, that's where Thursday's clash with Poland will be won or lost. Portugal's defence, led by a resurgent Pepe, matches up well against Robert Lewandowski and Arkadiusz Milik -- at least the version seen in this tournament -- and Raphael Guerreiro has arguably been one of the top left-backs at the Euros.
Up front, if "ordinary Ronaldo" shows up against a unit that has conceded just once in this tournament -- and that was through Xherdan Shaqiri's wonder strike -- then he'll need plenty of service. (If "superstar Ronaldo" turns up, well, then it won't matter much.)
Meanwhile, Adam Nawalka's crew have largely flown under the radar until this point, despite getting effusive praise from Joachim Low after their draw with Germany. Plenty have focused on Poland's tactical solidity and defensive stinginess, but they also play with an intensity that's straight out of Antonio Conte's playbook. What's been missing thus far is the offensive output from the front two but, in true Nawalka style, the pair find ways to contribute off the ball even when not scoring.
In other words, this is another tough nut for Portugal to crack. Fernando Santos had better hope he either finds the midfield combination he needs or Ronaldo has one of those Ronaldo-like days. Otherwise, it could be a long, unpleasant night in Marseille, France ... just like Portugal's Euro 2016 thus far.
I've seen nothing in Portugal which frightens me. They are a one man team.
Poland should win this one.
Poland should win this one.
Poland 1 - 0 Portugal
Lewandowski 2"
Lewandowski 2"
This is the type of team i want out.
See portugal just buy draw.
Portugal just won the Penalty shoot out.
Euro 2016 Quarter Finals:
Wales vs Belgium
Thomas Vermaelen is suspended for the quarterfinal against Wales, while Jan Vertonghen will miss the rest of the tournament through injury. That means 21 year-old Jason Denayer is likley to partner Toby Alderweireld and Jordan Lukaku (Romelu's brother) will play at left-back. Belgium's defence is weaker than it might have been and this could be an opportunity for Gareth Bale and Wales.
Wales vs Belgium
Thomas Vermaelen is suspended for the quarterfinal against Wales, while Jan Vertonghen will miss the rest of the tournament through injury. That means 21 year-old Jason Denayer is likley to partner Toby Alderweireld and Jordan Lukaku (Romelu's brother) will play at left-back. Belgium's defence is weaker than it might have been and this could be an opportunity for Gareth Bale and Wales.
Wales 3 Belgium 1
Belgium is rubbish according to u after they lost to Italy. How true
Never supported them anyway because of their inconsistent form and they can't gel as a team. They remind me of Chelsea and Man City.
Euro 2016 Quarter Finals:
Wales vs Belgium
Thomas Vermaelen is suspended for the quarterfinal against Wales, while Jan Vertonghen will miss the rest of the tournament through injury. That means 21 year-old Jason Denayer is likley to partner Toby Alderweireld and Jordan Lukaku (Romelu's brother) will play at left-back. Belgium's defence is weaker than it might have been and this could be an opportunity for Gareth Bale and Wales.
Well done Wales, u have done it again but kudos this time for beating those chiak leow bees 3-1.
When did I say that? Maybe you want to refer back to #12911 on this thread.
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