Oct. 15, 2008, 2010 WC qualifier Group 1
12:45pm USA Pacific time, hear it in Portuguese live on Antena1 radio
Portugal - Albania starts in a few hours. This is a chance for Carlos Queiroz to modify the starting lineup.
Will it be the same starting lineup of Sweden- Portugal? Replace Hugo Almeida with Nuno Gomes?
The defense- Will he put Miguel in Paolo Ferreira's place?
Wingers- Will he put Quaresma in Nani's place?
Forward- Nuno Gomes instead of Hugo Almeida.
Here's my starting eleven:
Quim
Bosingwa, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Miguel
Danny, Raul Meireles, Joao Moutinho,
Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma
Nuno Gomes
Portugal need to win this home qualifier after the embarassing home defeat Portugal 2-3 Denmark.
Group 1: Portugal is in 3rd place in Group 1 with 4 points
At this point, Portugal could have been in the top 2, if it had won the last 2 games. Portugal lost 3 points at home in Portugal 2-3 Denmark. It then gained 1 point in Sweden 0-0 Portugal.
Objective is to win, said Cristiano Ronaldo, Oct. 14, 2008
Objective is to win- Cristiano Ronaldo said in Portuguese on Oct. 14, 2008, "Everyone's responsibility is to win tomorrow to stay on the top of the group. It will be a difficult task, but since we're playing at home, we are favorites. We have to score and win."
Albania as the opponent- "They have 4 points like Portugal and we are one of the best national teams in the world. Alabania is a national team that we need to respect, always with the ambition to win. We'll give a great response."
About the lack of goals- "To win it's necessary to score goals. That didn't happen against Sweden, but the players up front don't feel responsible. I have the hope that the team will give a good response tomorrow."
'It will be a difficult game, said Nani, Oct. 14, 2008
If Nani plays again in the starting lineup, he'll have enormous responsibility. He didn't have a convincing performance in Sweden 0-0 Portugal. If he doesn't help create spaces, set up goals, Ricardo Quaresma might replace him again.
Nani said in Portuguese 'It will be a difficult game, but we're playign at home in front of our fans. We have all the conditions to play attacking football and score goals. We want to show our football.'
About his performance in Sweden 0-0 Portugal, "I fell good. I think I had a great game. I did my job. It's up to the coach to decide if I stay in the starting lineup. If so, I will give my best to help. The most improtant thing is unity to achieve victory."
What's your starting lineup? Final score prediction?