PORTUGAL WORLD CHAMPION

It’s been fun, it’s been an exciting month, but now it’s time to go back to real life.
This blog will officially cease today, like the World Cup, but will go on living in the “blogosphere” as a testimony to Portugal’s extraordinary campaign in the FIFA 2006 Wolrd Cup in Germany…
I write this before the Final is decided; quite frankly, I don’t care who wins, but I hope it’s Italy – they deserve it more.

Portugal didn’t win the cup, as I craftily advertised; but we came near, for a country of 10 million people, 100.000 football athletes give and take a few hundreds, 1 Eusébio, 1 Figo, 3 top football clubs (FC Porto, SL Benfica, Sporting Lisbon), 6 major European club titles, 2 world club titles, 1 runner-up position in Euro2004 and 1 third-place in the World Cup’66 being our best marks, in about 60 years of Portuguese Football.

I think the 2006 Portugual team did well.
They began the competition set to be in the final 8, and finished in the final 4 – I would call that SUCCESS.

From * to ***** here’s my own personal view of each and everyone in the team:

1 Ricardo ****
The goalie didn’t have a good year, not always being first-choice in his club, Sporting Lisbon. Nevertheless, he has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world cup, and is personally responsible for the team reaching the semi-final. I say, this is enough to clear him from the mistake which cost us the Euro2004 final…

2 Paulo Ferreira ***
The Chelsea player didn’t have many chances to play, but performed well when he did. Will have more chances in the future to show what he’s worth.

3 Caneira *
Didn’t have opportunity to play more than half a match.
Personally, I don’t think this Sporting player adds anything to the team.
Nearly elected The Ugliest in the World Cup, but Shrek was there.

4 Ricardo Costa *
Played 90’in the last match. This Porto player is pehaps a promising defender...

5 Fernando Meira ****
The only Portuguese footballer in the team, who plays for a German club – Stuttgard.
He’s been the revelation player of the team; initially picked to replace Jorge Andrade (Deportivo La Coruna), injured, he didn’t seem to adapt well to his position in defense; but he gradually improved in positioning and performance, finishing as one of the best in the team and in the world cup, as well.

6 Costinha *
The presently clubless player (linked to Atletico Madrid), has perhaps paid the price for not having played at all during the previous year, following his disastrous transfer to Dynamo Moskow… whish him more luck in the future.

7 Figo ****
I think everything has already been said about this world-quality player, now in Inter Milan.
In his last big tournament, maybe he deserved more luck and more help from his teammates; if only we could have had, at least 3 more like him…
May become know has Mr. Swedin, after he retires – his wife, Swedish ex-model Helen, has been voted World Cup’s Handsomest Footballer’s Wife…

8 Petit *
Here’s a player with definitely a lot of heart, but… he was unfortunate in his few exhibitions in the world cup. Usually does more and better for his club, Benfica.

9 Pauleta **
It was an ungrateful job he had to do, alone, lost, not having the support of other forwards… he did his best, but his best used to be better.
The best ever scorer in the national side (47 goals), retires from the Portuguese team having scored only one goal in this world cup, right in the opening game. Still, better than what he did in Euro2004. The style of football he enjoys in Paris St. Germain, favours him more.

10 Hugo Viana *
Had two opportunities to shine, but failed to impress.
I don’t even know where he’s playing and frankly I don’t care.

11 Simao Sabrosa ****
Still a Benfica player, for the time being, this great-small player didn’t live up to the expectations the Portuguese had in him; he gets a forth star merely because he converted two penalties – one of his many specialties…
Everybody hopes he can do more in the future, now that Figo is retiring…

13 Miguel ****
The fact that Barcelona and R. Madrid are disputing this great Valencia player says it all.
Unfortunate once again, as in the Euro2004 final, to go out injured when the team needed him the most. Suspicious…

14 Nuno Valente ***
The Everton player has showed some difficulties in keeping up with fast players, but has done well overall, showing great determination in the back; not so much in the forward movements, but so all of the Middlefield.

15 Boa Morte *
Had about 15’’ to savor the World Cup, that’s all we can say of this Fulham player.
He’s still to match the qualities and exhibitions he displays for the London club, in the national team.

16 Ricardo Carvalho ****
How we missed the Chelsea right back yesterday, against Germany! The final score would certainly have been different, had he played; unfortunate on the “penalty” incident that gave France the edge in the semi… still, nothing can delete his impressive work in the Portuguese defense.

17 Cristiano Ronaldo ***
The more-than-likely ex-ManU player, soon-to-be Real Madrid’s or Barcelonas's probable new Star, deserved more respect – especially from people who should be critics first of their own team - what other player his age (21) had ever such vicious and unfair campaign against him? It’s bleeding medieval!!!
Ronaldo should, nevertheless, be more humble and focused, in the future.
He’s playing more for the team but needs to find the right balance between his crafty foot-work and objectivity. Hopefully, he will mature enough to be a worthy replacement for Figo.
Public Enemy Nr1 in England; nannies say to the little snotty nippers “eat your fish&chips or Ronaldo will go to the referee”…

18 Maniche *****
The only player to deserve 5 star rating in the team.
Another player almost lost in transfer from Dynamo Moskow, also clubless (not for long) makes the difference without being a gifted player; however, he’s bigger-than-life ability to surpass himself is noteworthy!
The only Portuguese player to be in FIFA’s best 11 (not really the most relevant list, but still), the best scorer of the team and a tireless, brave player.
Apparently, people wake up screaming is name in Holland…

19 Tiago **
Lots of potential in that kid; worked hard every minute he spent on the pitch, but still has field to improve. The future is just ahead and looks promising for the Lyon player.

20 Deco ***
More was expected from the “Magician”; still, he was the best of the eclipsed Barcelona stars who played in the W. Cup.

21 Nuno Gomes ***
One goal in two tiny appearances, seem to imply the Benfica forward deserved more chances to play… but he had been injured prior to the World Cup, and I guess the coach decided not to gamble on Nuno’s complete recovery…

23 H. Postiga **
This once promising kid, on loan to St. Etienne I think, gets a second star from me on account of the penalty he converted in the series of 5.
Everybody expect more.

(numbers 12 and 22, the unused goalkeepers subs Quim and Paulo Santos, don’t get rated because they didn’t play a single minute in the W. Cup, but along with the injured Jorge Andrade, have been always there for the team.)

And finally, Luis Filipe Scolari ****
The maestro, the captain of the Portugal ship, the mastermind behind the success, and perhaps, some of the limitations of the team.
It’s undeniable the merit he has in building a strong team-spirit, a winning group and motivating players who have won plenty and players who want to win something; the Brazilian coach, slow in the beginning to grasp the Portuguese ways, has completely turn himself upside down, to dress the Portuguese colors, uniting and earning the respect of his “adoptive” country.
He has understood the limitations of the Portuguese football (mentality, resources in number and quality, and to less extent, physical limitations) and has generated a formula that works well in most circumstances, especially against adversaries that we used to have difficulty dealing with.
The price we paid for that, to win more often, is to win less brilliantly, to play a not so attractive football and risky football… but so have other teams, especially the most successful ones, like Italy…
The difference is, we used to play well and loose, now we play ugly as hell, but we rarely loose.
Perhaps his only minus, was not to have been more bold in some key matches (Euro2004 final for instance); not changing the team according to the different teams and characteristics of the matches; and being so conservative in forming the team, leaving out some promising young players… but who’s to say we could have done better in other circumstances?...

Last but not least, the Portuguese supporters, especially the emigrants, have been terrific and ultra-generous – they do deserve the title of Champions of the World Cup 2006! So this Blog is for them… I just hope they could also have the money, the capacity other supporters have to follow around their national teams – but regardless of the limitations they have to endure to be present, constantly in minority, they show they really are the champions, giving a lesson of dignity, sportsmanship and friendliness!

Auf Wiedersehen!
Força Portugal!!! New Career? No, just in tune with the heroes' homecoming...