Portugal / Dave Farrar / 18 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Portugal have started making the business end of tournaments over the last decade and having struggled in qualifying, they'll want to make the most of their time in South Africa. Leadership is a problem, boasting such talents as Cristiano Ronaldo and Simao is a huge plus.

"Portugal’s qualifying troubles mean that they are certainly overpriced to win the tournament, but there are so many question marks over the leadership of the team that any bet on them must come with a big leap of faith."

Portugal's qualifying troubles mean that they are certainly overpriced to win the tournament, but there are so many question marks over the leadership of the team that any bet on them must come with a big leap of faith.

If they perform at their best, then they can definitely win the World Cup, but there's a chance that they won't get going in time to even get out of the group. Ultimately, they did well to qualify. Any dreams that they had of being in South Africa looked shot as they stumbled to a series of 0-0 draws and a desperate home defeat against Denmark.
In fact, if Bruno Alves hadn't scored an injury time winner in Albania, then that would probably have been the end of Portugal. That moment seemed to wake them up, and they dominated their final games, and then brushed aside Bosnia in the play off, all without Cristiano Ronaldo. He's still their best player by a long way, and must do well for Portugal to perform, but the self belief that the rest of the squad is infused with after doing so well without him can only help their challenge.

Key Players

Cristiano Ronaldo

For a long time, fans have been divided over Ronaldo's best position in the national side. Should he play out wide, or could he be the target man that Portugal always seem to be missing at a major tournament?

He's great in the air and is such a good player that he can perform as a centre forward, but I still feel that he's at his most devastating when he runs at defences. Playing as a winger doesn't mean that he has to stay out wide, and he can still hurt defences by coming inside.

Queiroz has to provide a solid base, and then let Ronaldo try and win games for him. He has been devastating for Real Madrid in the second half of the season, and in a strange way has become the forgotten man of world football with the form of Leo Messi. This summer, he may just remind everyone outside Spain what the fuss is about, and score his first competitive goal for his country since Euro 2008.

Simao

When Ronaldo was out, it was Simao who stepped up to the plate and got his team over the line. A much underestimated player, who wouldn't be so if he was playing at a sexier club than Atletico Madrid. He'll play on the left with Ronaldo on the right, meaning that Portugal have two of the best wingers in Europe, both of whom can score goals. The problem for both, though, is once again the absence of a man in the middle. Simao has Kun Aguero and Diego Forlan to aim for in La Liga, but no such riches here.

Liedson

I could have picked many other members of a team that I really rate as key players. I love Portugal at the back, don't mind Pepe in midfield, and am a big fan of Meireles and Deco, but the fact remains that they won't win the World Cup without a centre forward getting at least four goals. Of course you can argue that Ronaldo might get eight and win it on his own, but it usually doesn't work like that, and the heir to Pauleta as the man who must is Brazilian born Liedson, who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The fans don't really like his presence in the team, but he has to get over that and hit a run of form during the tournament. He's a streaky player, and tends to score goals in bunches. It goes without saying that a rich vein of form in June and July would come is useful.

COACH

Carlos Queiroz

Queiroz isn't quite Raymond Domenech, but there are echoes of the Frenchman in Sir Alex Ferguson's former number two's public utterances.

He's not popular with Portuguese fans, who feel that he has made a good side into an average one, and the players don't like him either, criticising his schoolteacher approach. He's the opposite of Big Phil Scolari, and the big man was not an easy act to follow. I have sympathy for Queiroz on that score, but not for the fact that he makes tactical errors and clearly struggles to motivate his players. If Portugal do win, it will despite, not because of Queiroz.

Recommendation:

Portugal to qualify @ [1.72]

Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco, football tips, Portugal football manager, Portugal football team, Raul Meireles, Simao Sabrosa