| Subject: Portugal - A shambles in Suwon |
Author:
Son
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Date Posted: 10:28:27 06/06/02 Thu
06/05/2002. Can anyone please describe to me exactly what I witnessed in Group D's second match? The twilight zone could not have come up with something so utterly untenable. Weren't Portugal supposed to brush the U.S. aside and stride into the second phase without breaking sweat?
As far as I'm concerned, when considering form, pattern of play and expectation, this was the World Cup's biggest humdinger so far. France's opener was a shock, purely in terms of the result. But in this case the manner of Portugal's dramatic capitulation eclipses Les Bleus' abject failure.
It was a footballing freak show that displayed the kind of quality that makes your eyes burn in disbelief. Sure, it was watchable on the basis that there were five goals and the underdog won. But personally I don't find skill-free pap to be particularly entertaining.
The baffling encounter proved just one thing; the Portuguese are feeling the pressure of National expectation. There can be no other explanation for their dismal, sometimes naïve and frequently careless performance. There is a national belief and expectancy back home regarding the team's chances of glory this summer, that 'Figo is going to win us the World Cup'. It seems to have functioned more as a burden than as inspiration, bringing stifling consequences.
The USA deserves some credit. You can only beat what's in front of you but in this case it wasn't very much. The goals were largely awful (one of the worst WC own goals in history by Jeff Agoos) and Bruce Arena's men nearly contrived to throw away what should have become an easy three points.
We all know Portugal's defence will be prone to the odd shambolic mistake or lapse in concentration, but as the game developed their problems were not localised at the back. If their defence was TOTALLY abysmal throughout they would never have reached the semis of Euro 2000.
Amazingly, Portugal just could not keep the ball against what in reality is a fairly poor U.S. team. In the first thirty minutes they seemed incapable of coming back (just as they did, so breathtakingly, against England two years ago). Is this the same team that came so close to reaching the European Championship Final? Yes!
Panicking as the goals flew in past Vitor Baia (combining the traits of being hapless and unlucky to devastating effect) they hurried forward and surrendered possession with hopeless long diagonal balls to marked players (this is Rui Costa I'm talking about!!).
Portugal's defence may have been poorer than normal, but it was magnified by the ineptitude of the attacking play of the team as a whole. Any side will concede goals by the bucket load if they cannot keep the ball.
But surely, keeping the ball is what Portugal's game IS. They are one of the best at holding possession and making the opposition work – obliterating their confidence. This is what makes their performance against the U.S. so notable, and so worrying for the fans.
It seems Portugal have struggled to come to terms with being one of the favourites. Perhaps now popular expectation will plummet (many will now have written them off), allowing the team to go about their business amid less hysteria. At least they know what they have to do; win the last two matches.
I don't know about you, but in expecting the highest quality from a sublimely gifted Portuguese side I was left deflated more than anything else. It will be a shame if this immensely talented generation bows out of their one and only World Cup in such a manner.
Nevertheless, possible future opponents Italy and Mexico probably cant believe their luck – a Portugal struck
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