- So, after today's friendly, can you guess the starting 11 Scolari will put in Portugal- Turkey? The 2nd match of Euro 2008 on inauguration day?
- Which players in the 2nd half convinced you that they need to start?
The troubling thing this match showed was that strikers didn't score, the midfielders did.
It looks like Portugal depends on the wingers for goals, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma. As opposed to pure strikers Nuno Gomes, Helder Postiga and Hugo Almeida.
Granted, Nani came close, even Quaresma. Nuno Gomes, Scolari's favorite starting striker, nil. Not as dangerous as Nani or Quaresma.
Scolari started Portugal- Georgia with 4-3-3 and in the 2nd half, when he put in 2 forwards Helder Postiga and Hugo Almeida, it became a 4-2-2. 
--The only player in the match who played all 90 minutes was Chelsea defender Paolo Ferreira. He hasn't played a lot this season with Chelsea- compared to the other players.
- In the 1st half, the player with most minutes played in the season was Sporting Lisboa midfielder, Joao Moutinho.
The lineup in the 1st half of Portugal-Georgia was:
Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Paulo Ferreira,
Petit, João Moutinho, Deco,
Cristiano Ronaldo, Simão, Nuno Gomes.
- Carvalho and Pepe as central defenders. Scolari might use Pepe over Meira and Bruno Alves in the Portugal - Turkey match.
- Paolo Ferreira as left-back, even though he's a right back. He played left-back in the whole 90 minutes. Competition in the right-back position is too strong. FC Porto Jose Bosingwa as right-back.
Midfield question resolved- What young midfielder (Meireles, Joao Moutinho) to put next to Deco and Petit?
- Resounding answer, hey he even scored the 1st goal, Joao Moutinho. He earned his "titularidade," starting place in the match.
2nd half Nani and Quaresma were much more dangerous than Nuno Gomes. Helder Postiga, one of my favorite players, I'm afraid didn't make the cut. Here are the videos of the 2 goals:
Joao Moutinho's goal, 18th minute: As seen on RTP International
Simao's penalty in the 45th minute:
I had to put this clip with both goals, narrated in arabic. So much passion when they say Simao, goal... Sounds like they were narrating the final of a world cup :)
----Do you think the same starting lineup of the 1st half will be the one on June 7th, Portugal-Turkey?
I think: No. Only the forward and one midfielder needs to change. Put in Quaresma instead of Simao and I'm fine.
Forward:
Nuno Gomes was unconvincing especially when he didn't get enough service. He barely had shots on target. Portugal needs to be dangerous in the attack. On the other hand, in the 2nd half Nani and Quaresma both hit the woodwork at least twice. They don't depend too much on getting service like Nuno Gomes. I think Nuno Gomes can come in as a substitute in the 2nd half in the 1st Euro 2008 match.
For Portugal-Turkey I prefer:
Quim,
Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Paulo Ferreira,
Petit, João Moutinho, Deco,
Cristiano Ronaldo, Quaresma (constantly switching sides)
Nani
---So, after today's friendly, can you guess the starting 11 Scolari will put in Portugal- Turkey? The 2nd match of Euro 2008 on inauguration day?
---Which players in the 2nd half convinced you that they need to start?
--- What did you think of Moutinho's goal from the video?