THIS IS A PORTUGAL POST

[monster-treats.livejournal.com]

What's at stake in the Portugal-Denmark match this Friday is more than qualifying for the European Cup; it's the pride of a nation whose national football team is going through one of its deepest crises.
After a disappointing World Cup, the Selecção has gone through a million controversies and changes - the departure of veteran players such as Deco and Simão, the sacking of our uninspired coach Queiroz after a shady law suit, and has jeopardised Euro 2012 by drawing with Cyprus and losing to Norway in the last two qualifiers. At this rate, anything other than wins in our next games would mean that the Portuguese team won't be going to Poland and Ukraine two years from now. This scenario would be dramatic not only for Portugal - a country that leaves and breathes football - but also for the competition itself, which would have to go without one of the teams with most tradition and some of the biggest names in the sport.
 
This is way it is so important for EVERYONE to be rooting for Portugal in the games against Denmark (8th October) and Iceland (12th October) - and possibly beyond. As I am about to prove, there is plenty to love about this team. We're so much more than Cristiano Ronaldo.


the TEAM

Name: Portugal or Selecção
Colours: Red and Green, alternatively White. Kits designed by Nike.

Fanbase: 11 million Portuguese + millions of emigrants and Portuguese descendents all across the world + anyone who wants to join the party


Theme Songs: A Portuguesa (national anthem); Força by Nelly Furtado
 

 

Strengths: Handsome men, dribbling, friendship, team spirit, humour, drama, producing legends, passionate fans.
Weaknesses: Scoring, the Portuguese Football Federation, lack of confidence, bad luck, actually winning stuff.

Rivalries:

- Brazil: 
A game between two countries that share a language and a history is always a special occasion. But no one enjoys a fight more than siblings! Also, these game have been made interesting through the years thanks to legendary bromances, from Figo-Ronaldo-Roberto Carlos to Cristiano-Kaká.

- Spain: 
Portugal always took comfort by knowing your bigger neighbours were constantly worse of than us in international football. Of course, all of that changed in 2008, when their own Gold Generation conquered Europe and the World (defeating us thanks to a Villa off-side goal on their way to the top). Watching our eternal nemesis' success has been a hard blow on Portugal's pride. On a brighter note, we're trying to host the 2018 World Cup together. We're cool.



- England:
1966. Lead by Eusébio, the Portuguese national team shone in the football World Cup. After eliminating Brazil (the reigning champions) and North Korea (in a dramatic 5-3 win after being 3 goals down) we were hailed as the favourites to win the competiion. The semifinals against England were meant to be played in Liverpool, but at the last minute the (English) organisation decided the match should be held in Wembley. The Portuguese squad was forced to travel to London by train in the eve of the game. Exauhsted, they lost the game and England went on to win their only major title so far. Pictures of Eusébio's tears travelled across the world and this event is deeply ingrained in the minds of Portuguese football fans. Since then, every England-Portugal is seen as a revenge for what happened it back '66. Portugal has defeated England in Euro 2000, Euro 2004 and the 2006 WC (the last two times by penalty shoot outs). Karma continues to strike.



- France:
Our curse, our Achiles heel, the only team we actually fear. They have crushed our dreams to many time by defeating us in three dramatic semi-finals.


- Greece: 
Not a rivalry per se, but mention 2004's "Greek Tragedy" to a Portugal fan and you'll see them crawl in to darkness and weep.


our BOYS
The New Coach:
Paulo Bento (age 41)

Trivia:
- Represented the national team from 1995-2003
- Played along side Cristiano Ronaldo in Sporting
- As Sporting's coach, he was responsible for promoting Nani, Miguel Veloso, João Moutinho, and Rui Patrício to the first team.
- Uses the word "tranquility" a lot.

The Squad:

1- Eduardo dos Reis Carvalho

Age: 28
Position: Goal-keeper
Club: Genoa
Trivia:
- In 2006, he drove with some friends to Germany to watch Portugal play in the World Cup. Four years later, he was one of the stars of the team.
- His girlfriend, Jéssica Augusto, is an athlete who has run at the Olympics and won several medals in European Championships.
- He is nicknamed "Eduardo Scissorhands".

2 - Bruno Eduardo Regufe Alves

Age: 28
Club: Zenit St Petersburg
Position: Centre Back
Trivia:
- His father is Brazillian, and also his agent.
- Was the captain of FC Porto until he left for Russia this summer.
- Despite being a great defender, he is known for having a bit of a temper; he's been called a mix of Gattuso and Materazzi.

3 - João Pedro da Silva Pereira

Age: 26
Club: Sporting
Position: Full Back
Trivia:
- Despite of his age, he has never been capped for Portugal until now.
- Although he is a product of Benfica's academy, he plays for their rivals Sporting.

4 - Rolando Jorge Pires da Fonseca

Age: 25
Club: Porto
Position: Centre Back
Trivia:
- His name means "rolling" in Portuguese xD
- His was born on the Cape Verde islands, but he moved to Portugal as a small child.
- The youngest in a long line of centre backs, all of which have played for in Porto in succession: Bruno Alves, Pepe, and Ricardo Carvalho.

5 - Sílvio Manuel Azevedo Ferreira Sá Pereira

Age: 23
Club: Braga
Position: Full Back
Trivia:
- Played his first game for Portugal last month against Norway.
- The only player from Braga to make the list.

6 - Ricardo Alberto Silveira Carvalho (Vice-Captain)

Age: 32
Club: Real Madrid
Position: Centre Back
Trivia:
- The oldest player in the squad, and one the youngest look up to.
- He is the boss of the defence and many believe he should be the first choice as captain.
- He is known for being shy and reserved, but in private has a great sense of humour (I mean, look rocking that guitar). 

7 - Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (Captain)

Age: 25
Club: Real Madrid
Position: Winger
Trivia:
- The world's most famous Madeiran.

8 - João Filipe Iria Santos Moutinho

Age: 24
Club: Porto
Position: Central midfielder
Trivia:
- He was captain of Sporting until this summer when he made a shocking transfer to rivals Porto.
- He missed the 2010 World Cup because of his poor season with Sporting (losing the #10 to Danny).
- Has been hailed as one of the biggest promises in Portuguese football.

9 - Hélder Manuel Marques Postiga

Age: 28
Club: Sporting
Position: Striker
Trivia:
- Returns to the national team after a two-year absence; he played in Euro 2004, World Cup 2006, and Euro 2008.
- Won the UEFA Cup in 2003 with Porto, but left for Spurs in the end of the season, missing the opportunity to win the Champions League.
- One of his most memorable goals was a late equaliser against England in Euro 2004; Portugal subsquently won on penalties.

10 - Daniel Miguel Alves Gomes "Danny"

Age: 27
Club: Zenit
Position: Attacking midfielder
Trivia:
- He was born in Venezuela to Portuguese parents.
- His €30 million transfer from Dynamo Moscow to Zenit was the most expensive in the history of the Russian League.

11 - Silvestre Manuel Gonçalves Varela

Age: 25
Club: Porto
Position: Winger
Trivia:
- A product of the same Sporting Academy that gave the world Figo, Simão, Ronaldo, and Nani.
- After being let go by Sporting, he joined Porto on a free transfer; currently he is one of their main stars.

12 - António Alberto Bastos Pimparel "Beto"

Age: 28
Club: Porto
Position: Goal-keeper
Trivia:
- Yet another player from Sporting Academy who has found success in Porto.
- Although he is Porto's second-choice keeper (after Brazillian Helton), he is widely considered to be the future of the Dragons' goal.

13 - Ruben Micael Freitas da Ressureição

Age: 24
Club: Porto
Position: Midfielder
Trivia:
- He is from Madeira Island, like Cristiano (he also uses his two given names as his player name; too cool for surnames I guess).
- Although he hasn't been a regular at Porto, he was called up as a last.minute replacement for injured Miguel Veloso.

14 - Manuel Henrique Tavares Fernandes

Age: 24
Club: Valencia
Position: Midfielder
Trivia:
- His family is from the Cape Verde islands.
- He grew up on the same neighbourhood as Nani, and the two played street football together as kids.
- He is nicknamed "Manélélé" in reference to Claude Makélélé.

15 - Képler Leveran Lima Ferreira "Pepe"

Age: 27
Club: Real Madrid
Position: Centre back
Trivia:
- Despite being a defender, he often plays in the midfield for Portugal, ahead of Alves and Carvalho.
- He was born in Brazil, but moved to Portugal at 18. He speaks with a Portuguese accent and was photographed holding a Portugal flag when he won the League with Madrid in 2008.
- His Portuguese wife, Sofia, is a doctor.
- His name is actually prononced "Pep" (as in Pep Guardiola).

16 - Raul José Trindade Meireles

Age: 27
Club: Liverpool
Position: Central midfielder
Trivia:
- Is known for his unique fashion sense. He wears trendy glasses although he doesn't actually need them.
- He has numerous tattoos, which he usually gets with his wife Ivone.
- Often scores decisive goals.

17 - Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha "Nani"

Age: 23
Club: Manchester United
Position: Winger
Trivia:
- Celebrates goals with a trademark backflip.
- He learned how to play the piano as pastime since he joined United.
- He and Ronaldo have spoken publicly about their great rivalry... in table tennis.

18 - Hugo Miguel Pereira de Almeida

Age: 26
Club: Werder Bremen
Position: Striker
Trivia:
- Nicknamed "Hugoal" in Germany.
- Has a tattoo in honour of his daughters Mariana and Matilde.

19 - Tiago Cardoso Mendes

Age: 29
Club: Atlético Madrid (on loan from Juventus)
Position: Midfielder
Trivia:
- Has played for Chelsea, Lyon, Juventus, and Atlético Madrid.
- He was the top scorer for Portugal in the last World Cup, netting twice against North Korea.
- Although he used to play for Benfica, he is a Porto fan at heart.

20 - Carlos Jorge Neto Martins

Age: 28
Club: Benfica
Position: Attacking midfielder
Trivia:
- Left Sporting due to personal problems with Paulo Bento.
- Always an irregular player, has regained confidence since joining Benfica.

21 - Paulo Ricardo Ribeiro Jesus Machado

Age: 24
Club: Tolouse
Position: Central midfielder
Trivia:
- This is his first call to the national team, although he has represented Portugal in the youth teams.
- Is one of the stars of the Toulouse side that is currently fourth place in Ligue1.

22 - Rui Pedro dos Santos Patrício

Age: 22
Club: Sporting
Position: Goal-keeper
Trivia:
- Sporting Academy's answer to Iker Casillas.
- Was promoted to Sporting's first team at age 19 andis considered one of the most promising keepers of his generation.
- In 2009, he scored a goal against Twente in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League.

23 - Fábio Alexandre da Silva Coentrão

Age: 22 (the baby!)
Club: Benfica
Position: Left back
Trivia:
- Originally a winger, he has been playing in defence for the last few seasons to great success.
- One of the revelations of the last world cup, and has attracted interest from clubs such as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
- Has a daughter named Vitória, who was born while he was in South Africa.


the GOLDEN DAYS
- 1966 World Cup-

It was the first big tournament we played in and so far the most successful. Our team was composed of the entire Benfica squad that was the Barcelona of the 1960s, and whose star was Eusébio, "The Black Pearl". Born in colony of Mozambique, he was the first African footballer to achieve superstardom, and is universally considered the finest Portuguese player of all time.
In the group stages, Portugal beat Hungary 3–1, Bulgaria 3–0, and two-time defending champions Brazil 3–1. In the quarter-finals, we defeated North Korea 5–3 in an epic match that four goals from Eusebio, after being 0–3 down at half-time. Later, they reached the semi-finals but were defeated by hosts and eventual champions England 2–1. Portugal then defeated the Soviet Union 2–1 in the 3rd place match for their best World Cup finish to date. Eusébio was the top scorer of the World Cup with nine goals, and he won the Ballon d'Or that same year.

- Euro 1984 -

It took Portugal almost 20 years to be back on the top stages of football, and we didn't do bad either. After drawing the first two group games against Spain and Germany, a 1-0 win against Romania was enough to go through the knockout stages.
The semi-final against France is often considered one of the best matches in the history of European Cups. The game went to extra time tied 1-1; Portugal scored again in the 98th minute to give the team a shocking lead. But the French rallied and Domergue scored sixteen minutes after Portugal went ahead. Then, with the penalty shoot-out looming, some guy named Platini scored his 8th goal of the championship to give France a memorable 3-2 victory. Bummer.

- Euro 1996 -

It was the first major tournement of "The Golden Generation" - a group of talented kids that won the U-21 World Cup twice in 1989 and 1991 and were responsible for returning prestige to Portuguese football. The team included names like Luís Figo, Rui Costa, Vítor Baía, Fernando Couto, and Paulo Sousa, all of whom achieved success in the greatest clubs in Europe.
Portugal drew 1–1 with European Champions Denmark, won 1–0 to Turkey and 3–0 against Croatia, finishing first in their group. In the quarter-finals, they lost 1–0 to eventual runners-up Czech Republic, due to a marvelous Karel Poborský second-half lob over goalkeeper Vítor Baía.

- Euro 2000 -

Portugal almost reached the 1998 WC in France. However, during a qualifier in Germany, Rui Costa was controversially sent off for taking too long to walk off the field while Portugal was leading 1–0. Germany drew the crucial game and was thus able to qualify. This incident is regarded as one of the darkest in Portugal's football history, with FIFA being accused of favouritism in support of Germany (the defending Euro '96 champions). FIFA helping big teams? NO WAY.

This is why Euro 2000 was a landmark: Portugal has qualified for every European and World Cup ever since. It was also probably one of the best squads we ever had - the Golden Generation had reached its maturity, with our guys playing in some of the greatest clubs in Europe.
Our perennial bad luck stroke before the tournament had even begun. Portugal was sorted into "the group of death" - having to compete with Germany, England, and a respectable Romanian side, nobody really expected us to go farther than the group stages. The first game (against England) seemed to confirm those predictions: 20 minutes in, we were already 2-0 down. And then, out of nowhere, Luís Figo woke up and scored one of the best goals in the history of the Euros. João Pinto and Nuno Gomes followed his example, and we ended up winning the match. Then we beat Romania 1-0 with last-minute header by Costinha. With a place in the quarter-finals secured, coach Humberto Coelho decided to give the first team a little rest; it was when our reserves defeated Germany 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick by Sérgio Conceição.
In the quarter-finals we beat Turkey, and with Europe was taking us seriously once again, Portugal prepared to reach for glory. And, once again, France was in our way.

Our team dominated the match and even scored first, but France equalised. Already in extra-time, Sylvain Wiltord kicked a ball into the hand of Abel Xavier. The referee initially gave France a corner but changed his mind after consulting with the linesman – the subsequent penalty kick was converted by one Zinédine Zidane. And just like that - thanks of the brilliant invention that was the Golden Goal rule - the best team in the tournament was sent home empty-handed. The Portuguese players were outraged because Xavier's hand was actually out of the pitch when he touched the ball, and three of our players - including Paulo Bento himself - were suspended for protesting. We're still bitter about it.

- Euro 2004 -

With the competition taking place at home, pressure was huge for our national team. After a disgraceful 2002 World Cup, the FPF hired world champion Luiz Felipe Scolari to win us the competition that had got away so many times.
Things started in the worst way possible. Scolari refused to call up 2004 UEFA Best Goal-keeper Vítor Baía and benched most of the other FC Porto players that had just made history by winning the Champions League under José Mourinho – resulting in an inaugural defeat to Greece. After that loss, he admitted his mistakes and Golden Generation players like Rui Costa and Fernando Couto were replaced in favour of new talents - not only Porto stars Ricardo Carvalho, Deco, and Maniche, but also 19-year-old wonderkid Cristiano Ronaldo. This fresh-faced team then beat Russia, Spain, England, and The Netherlands to reach the first final in Selecção’s history – where they would face the surprise of the tournament, Greece. A perfect good-bye to the Golden Generation and the ideal prize for hosting what UEFA considered "the best Euro of all time".

We don't like to talk about what happened next.

-2006 World Cup-

40 years later, our confidence higher than ever, we went to Germany with the determination to repeat the feats of Eusébio & Co. Scolari conviced Figo out of international retirement and he captained us for one last memorable World Cup.
We went through the group stages easily, finishing with 9 points after beating Angola, Iran, and Mexico. From then on it was a rerun of Euro'2004, and once again we defeated The Netherlands (with a beautiful goal by Maniche) in a ferocious game that became known as "The Battle of Nuremberg", thanks to 16 yellow and 4 red cards.
England was next. The game was mostly uneventful, and neither team scored even after extra-time. So it was penalty shoot-outs again (and you know how England feels about those). Trying to give the team confidence, the English chose Lampard (who hadn’t missed a one in two years) to take the first penalty – and our goalie Ricardo saved it. From then on it was the Ricardo show, and Portugal won 3-1, reaching the top 4 in the World for the second time.

Oh, and guess who we were against. FRANCE. D'oh!
There was a penalty, Zizou scored, au revoir World Cup. Finishing 4th was still good and, as a consolation, we won the prize for “most entertaining team”. It was the end of an era, Figo's goodbye, and his heir apparent Cristiano Ronaldo succeeded him as Portugal's star.



So join our prayer circle now! What are you waiting for?





(Oh right. So are we.)