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...

Last of the First

We had a good run, folks.
Although we kindda flopped in the end, we should be happy with what we have accomplished – 4th place, ahead of Brasil, Argentina and all others – ‘nough said!
As I wrote in one of my previous posts, I don’t think this run was ever going to top that one of ’66… that was a mythical team and will only be surpassed with another extraordinary team – that hasn’t even been born probably…
unfortunately, we lost more than a game and a few medals - we loose Luis Figo, Pauleta (and Kahn for Germany) unforgetable players that will be hard to replace...
Congratulations to Germany, as well – they have been honorable hosts, and take 3rd place deservedly, although with a more-than-fair dose of luck.
Indeed, all luck (and endurance) seemed to have abandoned us, in the end; Germany scored 3 goals in 5 shots! That’s a better-than-average ratio, something you don’t see everyday; of course, we had our (many) mistakes as well, and Oliver Kahn been tremendous, making incredible saves and having enough luck in the rest, to clutch an exceedingly plump final score, more flattering to Germany than deserved. In his last apearence for Germany, Kahn could easily have been man-of-the-match, if that other guy whose name is almost unpronounceable , hadn't scored those two important goals...

They’ve been everything, alas, that we haven’t been in the last three matches – efficient, fast, simple, determined.
I believe those are the key-ingredients for success – the closer you can have a team playing to that, the more chances they have of winning.
But then again, everybody’s a couch-coach…

Kings of Hearts

Yesterday, I read something on ihaterooney.co.uk (there’s also a blog of the same name), the new Scottish pride and good-humoured answer to the hysterical campaign against C. Ronaldo - something that only a woman could say – and I mean this as a compliment!
In her own words: “The Portuguese play with their hearts.” Fabulous.
I think it’s remarkable, the way she nailed it, in a phrase.
And more than Poetry, it’s the harsh reality…
They do play more with their hearts than with their heads; that has made the difference many times, to their disfavour, alas.
The day they accomplish the right balance between heart and head, they will be unstoppable.
Mind you, that day is neigh!

The Phalic-Awards go to…

I don’t really care.
Anything coming from the Federation of Ignorance of Football Accountants is irrelevant.
They know everything about business as common people know everything about Football; that’s their game.
If a goal-keeper from a small country, saves 3 penalties, breaking a world cup record; manages to defend pretty much everything in 7 matches, letting just 2 goals in, all this in a team with a shaky defense, then I and any average Joe feel that such goal-keeper deserves a place, at least, in the best 5 of the World Cup…
Apparently that is not enough, and I have to agree – next time let’s see the man stop 4 penalties…the big showoff…

UPDATE

Well, FIFA must have read my post, for they have rectified their lists, and Ricardo now IS among the 3 best goalkeepers... also, Ricardo Carvalho and C. Ronaldo made it to the final listing.
Thanks for letting us know...

Winner of the Most Entertaining Team title, with more votes from around the football planet - and no doubt with the help of this blog - quite deservedly, and according to fifaworlcup.com, is PORTUGAL!!!!! Obrigado a todos os que votaram! Thanks for your vote!

Other awards Futblogger International Blog (FIB) finds appropriate to present:

Best Football Display: Ghana
Best Defense: Switzerland
Best Attack: Germany
Best Middlefield: Italy
Best Player: Buffon (Italy)
Best Match: Brazil v Australia

Most Impressively-Sang National Anthem - Italy
Most Wronged Teams: 1 Australia 2 Portugal 3 USA
Biggest Incredible Losers: In Ex aequo: The English agitators (including press) and the slimy French Coach.

I am one of those who believe Lukas Podolski won the FIFA Young player award deservedly. He had a great World Cup, he scored, he helped his team, he did in fact rise above all others.
True, also, that he had more chances to shine than most others did, for he played more minutes than the Argentinean Messi, or C. Ronaldo, to name just a few of the nominees.
C. Ronaldo, nevertheless, will have plenty opportunities to show he can really be the best, provided he turns more mature and more intelligent… or he’ll have a great career, indeed, but in the cat-walk, showing all his dribble skills in satin, silk or kaki…

The Name of the Game

While moral victories aren’t as valuable as actual victories, in and out of the pitch, I still believe the way you win is more important than just winning at any coast.
During the past two weeks, Portugal as a team, and as a country, has been defamed, viciously and unfairly insulted, and attacked by some foreign press, under the cape of journalism and football rivalry…
All limits were crossed, to the point of near-hysteria, in countries like England and more recently, France.
What we see clearly, now that Portugal is where many people wanted us to be, is that we are much more gracious in defeat (maybe with more reason to complain), than the seemingly superior civilized English, German and French supporters (the latest haven’t even lost, so imagine what would happen if they did); the English need no further comments, since it’s public the way they behaved during, and after their campaign in Germany; like the English, some Germans have chosen to let their frustration out on Restaurants (Italian); finally, at each French celebration, trouble erupts in their main towns, with injured and destruction following suit…

Yes, “dear” FIFA and civilized nations of Europe – we may be poor, not bring a lot of charm and revenue to the competition, not drink as much as the English or the Germans, shop as much as the Beckhams, attract as many viewers as Brazil, or sell as much soap, beer, hotdogs or whatever you selling, but at least we keep our dignity, keep our peace and our sanity.
After all, it’s just a game… or maybe not…
We should sue.

Keeping it Real

The cocky French are unworthy of winning the World Cup.
The best team didn’t win, unfortunately, but shouldn’t have lost that way.
It’s tough to miss a World Cup final like that.

But it’s fair to say we did everything we could, under the circumstances.
Winning or loosing, we always play the same way, risking very little or nothing…
We didn’t have players that really made the difference, that could use speed or clever passes to break through.
In the two chances we did, we blew it.

Figo, in the most obvious of all, couldn’t find the net with that high-header over the bar, so not in accordance with the skill he showed in the head-butting attempt against Van Dropple…
C. Ronaldo reacted well to the anti-Ronaldo hysteria promoted by the vicious English press, and I dare say he had his best game in the World Cup. Not what we all expected of him, though, but I guess good enough to see him win the Best Young Player Award.
Ricardo, hardly put to test during the all game, even played as a forward – and didn’t deserve to have to save yet another (pretense) penalty…
R. Carvalho, couldn’t find better use for his balls in this last game… but overall, it’s been a pretty grim display, luck and inspiration being away… and that’s two games already without scoring – no one can expect to be champion, without keeping the goals coming...

Except in the match against Australia, the Italians have showed they can provide goals in abundance – they have more than any other team and they make it look so easy…
They are then the natural candidates to lift the cup – for the 4th time.

As for Germany, to settle for the consolation prize, if they win 3rd place, will be meaningless for a country three times World Champion… but there’s always the question of pride and they are playing at home.

Portugal has done quite well, we have to admit.
Let’s face it, no one in the begining – not even the team, probably – expected to get so far, in a competition we rarely visit, being only our fourth presence.
I don’t think this one beats the first one in 1966, even if like then, we take 3rd place. We haven’t been so spectacular nor have our opponents been so strong.

What should count is the obvious advance of the Portuguese Football in the International main stages.
Maybe next time we will actually win something…

The Ugly Duckling Has Been Drowned

France, congratulations, more cars will burn in the Parisian night, I’m sure.
The smarter team won.
I don’t even think they needed that gift from the referee.

We’re out because we couldn’t score the few opportunities we had.
We lost, having the best chances, the most shots on target and off target, without Ricardo having to apply too much of himself.
We are not good enough to be in a final, with the likes of Argentina; but we are not so bad that we deserve to loose with a questionable penalty, a CLEAR dive of the best actor in the World Cup. Definitly a dive to remeber!
We have to admit, he did an excellent job providing an even more excellent opportunity for the Burroguayan referee to give them a penalty.
This time Ricardo couldn’t stop it, but nearly.

That’s what won them the game – they scored, we didn’t. Even if they had some help to achieve that, they didn’t waste it.
No excuses.
No matter how many replays you see of that penalty, in all you can clearly see that after Carvalho’s clumsy fall, there is contact indeed – definitely not enough to bring a player down, but Henry cleverly, theatrically and belatedly drops to the ground, like the log he is.
Maybe we should have been given a penalty as well, just as arguable, over C. Ronaldo when he was flying to the ball and a hand goes in his back…
But we didn’t score, we couldn’t do it with our mediocre effort, so that really was our penalty.
Ricardo Carvalho has been one of the best defenders, and didn’t deserve to see his role in the world cup penalized.
The middle-field, though, hasn’t been brill… hence…

May the best team, Italy, win the final – Italy.
That should be a tight game – both teams usually play with 12 players, only this time I don’t know which team will have the referee.
Without the 12th player, Italy is the best team and deserves to be the champion.
They will win.
And we shall be in one more game - the worst that can happen is forth place - pretty good, though, for the ill-loved finalist...

Ps – we couldn’t have lost to nicest savages… while I type, the Freaks, I mean the French crowd in the streets, show they sportsmanship by pushing the Portuguese TV crew in Paris, throwing objects, water and offenses. Look who was barkin about Fair Play...
Some people can't loose, some people can't (and shouldn’t) win. At least the English had the excuse they were drunk…

The Worst Pizza Heartburn

I feel for Germany – I think we all do, except the Italians, obviously; the Portuguese in particularly, know how they feel (it’s never easy, but I think it’s worse to lose in your own home-final, when expectations were really raised to the limit).
It’s frustrating. Especially when the German team was so close to the penalties, where they’d surely be favourites to win…
Anyway, we can’t say the Italians didn’t deserve to win; they’ve been much closer to scoring several times, and looked always more dangerous.
In spite of the unattractive way they play, and of their seemingly more easy road to the final, we have to accept they sure are efficient – and in the Final, in Berlin…
Too bad for Germany.

In the end, the joke’s on the hosts…- a Teutonic newspaper came up with a campaign to get Germans to mass-order pizzas just before the game, so that the staff of the Italian Restaurants be so busy, they couldn’t watch the game… - which must be the only known example of German sense of humour!
Unfortunately for them, it’s not really funny, unless you’re Italian – not only they leap-frog over you to the final in your own home, they also make a handsome sum at the end of the day from all the Pizzas sold…
I’ll have a slice of that, please…

Like I said in the beginning, I was sad for the Germans earlier; hopefully, I won’t have to feel bad again later but happy for the winners – Portugal!

Join the Q

So, the French press is trying to use the same dirty tricks as the English, attacking the Portuguese Fair play, labelling us “Bad boys”, hu? Even some players, who show how much they know what they're talking about, by claiming "Scolari is a good player" - Riberidiot)...
Au contraire, baguette-heads!
It’s funny how this nonsense strategy always come up before a match against a “powerful” team – what are you so afraid of? Portugal is insignificant, but can still stir quite a concern, apparently…
Yes, we are “aggressive”, but in a sportive way, “fighting” till the end, applying a great determination and all our soul in the game – that’s why we are where we are, at this point; where is Brazil now? Where is Argentina? If they had showed this attitude, maybe they’d be in the semi’s like we are.

Yes, we have not been “brilliant”, beautiful or super-effective; but with the meager resources we have, we have done more than other “big” teams, more than you give us credit for… and we haven’t been granted any favours or enjoyed flagrant “divine” help, of any source...
Yes, we owe it to a very good Brazilian coach, as well – as some of you frustrated Brazilians like to “remind” us – but it was not him, who saved 3 penalties…valeu?!

I can think at least of one French player (Cissé) deservedly getting a direct red card in a match against the under-21 Portuguese team, for an unprovoked violent attack on a Portuguese player… an epic game that we turned around and you LOST.
Then the young players got carried away during the celebrations and trashed the place – so what? After all the abuse they took from you, who can blame them? They haven’t done anything remotely near to that, since or before – so who do you think are “Les Cons”?!

Instead of raising false questions over the Portuguese players, you French chauvinists should check the statistics of the last game, against England, and see which team had more fouls and more yellow cards(not to mention a red card)… here's a hint –
It’s the Rasta-pulling, nuts-treading team…

The Socceranos

Leaving alone the English for a while, I wish to raise some eyebrows again, by mentioning the supposed invisible games that go on behind the curtain of the football break (present and past).
Tomorrow the first semi-final will be played between Germany and Italy, but as it is publicly known now, both sides have been involved already in a tactical game to beat the opponent outside the pitch – Italy took the lead today, with the advertised suspension of Frings, caught on camera attempting to hit an Argentinean player.
The incidents took place Friday, three days ago; FIFA, apparently, was not in a hurry to launch the investigation to what motivated the tumult between Argentineans and Germans and who did what.
Funny how the camera suddenly cut away from the commotion and seemed reluctant to give a clear view of what was going on… was it in the interest of protecting the good name of Football and Fair Play, or to protect one of the teams? We did see the Germans trying to appease the Argentineans, while some of the Latin-American bad-boys seek to hit some of the players…
Then, nothing; silence, almost no comments, pictures, TV replays – nothing like the fuss generated and exploited all week by the media (the English, above all), over the match Portugal v Holland…
The vilest things were said and written about the Portuguese and the team (quite handy propaganda), with no mention or interest for the truth, the good character references by Sven-Goran Erikson, etc.
Yesterday (Sunday), then, there was a hint that someone in the German team could get penalised for involvement in the aggressions with the Argentineans and today, Monday, the day before the semi-final, the news is finally out – apparently the Italians knew about it first than the Germans; the Germans accuse the Italians (who have their own football-league trials going on for corruption) of pressuring FIFA, and the atmosphere is set for the game to begin. Should be a good game indeed.

Theories of conspiracy or whatever, that made me think of all the conflicting interests of power, money, sponsors, and even politics, behind this great competition, and how some – usually the more influential, the more powerful countries, teams, players, referees, people – may influence the outcome of matches, results, champions…
All I know is that if ever there was a team favoured, that has never been Portugal – not because we’re above all that, but because we’re too poor and tiny – the big “kids” don’t let us in and play…and who owns the ball, owns the game...
Beware of the men in raincoats… or maybe the men in white coats...

The Witch-hunt

It’s open season on escaping-goats in England; the tabloid press, in particular, always so blood-thirsty, is pilling pages and pages of sour-loser excuses and undigested rage, to fuel and burn at the stake all those they need to accuse, so they have villains, victims, stories; a sacrifice to appease they-own mediocre selves, and the frustration of the louts who can’t accept the end of the empire, the metric system, the Euro, the end of their third pint, reality bites.
In what are they different from the Spanish, the Argentineans or the Brazilians?
In just one thing– they are not as good as the other teams…
It’s hard to say which is the less graceful in defeat, though – the Argentineans, always more hot-tempered, showed in the heat of the moment, that they don’t take defeat kindly; the English let it simmer gradually – they have to sober up first – then, they strike in vengeance, usually against the more-at-hand victims (they hadn’t yet forgiven Ricardo, for Euro2004)- in this recent case, some immigrants, a Portuguese Restaurant and C. Ronaldo, in effigy (so far, he's getting only warnings/threats)…
When everybody thought they couldn’t crawl any lower, they go out of their way to show us wrong!
They may not be so sportive, but they sure are competitive!