Euro 2008 - Day 1: Portugal's Collective Play Breaks Down Turkey's Defense
June 8th 2008 00:17
Luiz Felipe Scolari has so many options in midfield that it's hard not to see this team going very far in the tournament. His squad started the game with Nuno Gomez in front, Simão on the left flank, Cristiano Ronaldo on the right, Deco in the center, and Moutinho and Petit right behind the Brazilian-born midfielder. This formation wasn't written in stone though as the attacking midfielders spent the entire match rotating positions with Ronaldo playing on either flank and occasionally alongside Gomez, while Deco and Simão switched up every so often. This endless shifting gave a lot of trouble to the Turkish defense which couldn't keep up with the Portuguese wingers' speed, and didn't know exactly who was supposed to mark whom.
The first goal of the match was the result of Portugal's constant mobility when Real Madrid's centre-back Pepe came all the way from the defense to make a superb one-two with Nuno Gomes and put the ball in the back of the net. It was the defenseman's second goal of the night, the first being disallowed after an offside call. Since defending isn't Portugal's style, Scolari kept his team's foot on the pedal by substituting Simão, Deco, and Gomes for Nani, Meira and Meireles. Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Gomes' position as center forward while also drifting back to the wing, Nani took up the other wing while Meira and Meireles closed down the middle in front of Moutinho and Petit.
Ronaldo was the origin of the second goal. Leading his team on a counter-attack, he made a beautiful pass to Moutinho at the the entrance of the 18-yard box. The midfielder rotated towards the other side to get away from his marker and the goalkeeper (who was coming straight at him), spotted Meireles at the corner of his eye, and passed the ball to his teammate who didn't miss the empty net.
The Turks didn't have time to breathe in this game. They were rarely dangerous except on set-plays but Portugal's defensemen were up to the task. Portugal is now in a comfortable spot with a 2 goal differential and the Czech Republic as their only threat to a first place finish. Turkey, on the other hand, is dead last and while have to find a way to generate some offense. Something that's pretty hard to do when your leading goalscorer – Hakan Sukur - was dropped from the team before the tournament.
My man of the match: Pepe. Dangerous on corners, solid in defense. This guy had an all-around great game.
Honorable mentions:
- Cristiano Ronaldo. He was very dangerous despite the fact that he was often double-marked, even triple-marked.
- Nuno Gomes. The veteran spent most of his international career in the shadow of Pauleta. He was simply unlucky tonight as he struck the woodwork twice (one of his shots hit the post and while his header was denied by the crossbar).
The first goal of the match was the result of Portugal's constant mobility when Real Madrid's centre-back Pepe came all the way from the defense to make a superb one-two with Nuno Gomes and put the ball in the back of the net. It was the defenseman's second goal of the night, the first being disallowed after an offside call. Since defending isn't Portugal's style, Scolari kept his team's foot on the pedal by substituting Simão, Deco, and Gomes for Nani, Meira and Meireles. Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Gomes' position as center forward while also drifting back to the wing, Nani took up the other wing while Meira and Meireles closed down the middle in front of Moutinho and Petit.
Ronaldo was the origin of the second goal. Leading his team on a counter-attack, he made a beautiful pass to Moutinho at the the entrance of the 18-yard box. The midfielder rotated towards the other side to get away from his marker and the goalkeeper (who was coming straight at him), spotted Meireles at the corner of his eye, and passed the ball to his teammate who didn't miss the empty net.
The Turks didn't have time to breathe in this game. They were rarely dangerous except on set-plays but Portugal's defensemen were up to the task. Portugal is now in a comfortable spot with a 2 goal differential and the Czech Republic as their only threat to a first place finish. Turkey, on the other hand, is dead last and while have to find a way to generate some offense. Something that's pretty hard to do when your leading goalscorer – Hakan Sukur - was dropped from the team before the tournament.
My man of the match: Pepe. Dangerous on corners, solid in defense. This guy had an all-around great game.
Honorable mentions:
- Cristiano Ronaldo. He was very dangerous despite the fact that he was often double-marked, even triple-marked.
- Nuno Gomes. The veteran spent most of his international career in the shadow of Pauleta. He was simply unlucky tonight as he struck the woodwork twice (one of his shots hit the post and while his header was denied by the crossbar).
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