Real Betis goalkeeper Ricardo next game Betis v. Barcelona- how many goals will he concede?

Tomorrow on Valentine's day, goalkeeper Ricardo might be in goal in the big game Betis v. Barcelona.

Barcelona has 14 players coming from international duty. Will they get over the "jet-lag." Messi scored for Argentina the second goal in the friendly France 0-2 Argentina. 'Rafa' Marquez was sent-off in the exciting "classico" USA 2-0 Mexico.

Real Betis is playing at home. The next 2 months have to be better for Betis since the arrival of striker Oliveira last week. In the first months of this season Betis had a hard time scoring.

Betis does not have a good head-to-head record against Barcelona. Betis beat Barcelona only once since 2006.

I predict Betis 1-2 Barcelona.




Goalkeeper Ricardo is in the call-up list and MARCA assumes he'll be in goal:

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Photo Paolo Ferreira, Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, Real Betis goalkeeper Ricardo, in suit- returning from 2006 world cup

Photo: July 9, 2006- When the Portugal team arrived in Lisboa after losing its 3rd place match in the 2006 Germany world cup.

Paolo Ferreira, Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, goalkeeper Ricardo, in elegant black suit.

English translation of the article:
Photo Headline: Ricardo: "It's very nice and it moves me a little." Goalkeeper delighted by the reception. July 9, 2006- source: Record.pt

Goalkeeper Ricardo, who was one of the players who got emotional during the festivities this morning at the Estádio Nacional, told journalists what he felt after the generous demonstration of love and support of the Portuguese people.

“It's very nice and it moves me a little. After everything, the love and support they gave us was fantastic. We tried to get the support and reflect it on the field. We're proud of what we did. We tried to represent with dignity the country of Portugal. There were 28 teams left behind us."

About the people chanting his name and wanting to hear his voice, the goalkeeper was clear: “It's a very nice feeling to hear my name chanted by the people."

About the retirement of Figo and Pauleta: “They'll never stop being part of the Selecção.”
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They all look great especially Paolo Ferreira.

The photo with the headline:

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New Portugal goalkeeper? Who? Quim, Eduardo, Rui Patricio or Daniel Fernandes

It's obvious Queiroz has no intention of calling up goalkeeper Ricardo. Let's assume he's dropped from the Queiroz list for the next 2 qualification matches. In the first matches with Queiroz in charge, it was Quim in goal. Fans finaly got to see him in goal. 2008- Quim, 2009- who?

Benfica's Quim has was dropped from the Benfica squad late last year. He began making errors that cost Benfica a victory. Quique then risked using Moreira for the following games. He didn't conceded a goal in 2 games until the third game he conceded one goal. Feb 2009- finally beginning to play in Benfica more regularly.

What about the famous Ricardo? In the first half of the season Sept 2008- Dec 2008- he was always on the bench. The Betis first choice goalkeeper was Casto. Now in January and February 2009 Ricardo has started in goal at Betis. Casto is relegated to the bench. If he keeps playing I still doubt Queiroz would want to call him. Queiroz is thinking about the future of the team and is grooming a young goalkeeper and his "experienced' one will be Quim.

Who will Queiroz choose for the next 2 matches? His 3 options have been:

Daniel Fernandes- Portugal 1-0 Finland (Feb 11, 2009): Substitute. replaced gk Eduardo in the 61st minute.



Rui Patricio - Sub21, Sporting CP- injured a finger in the left hand in the last game last weekend.

The medical dept has said he's fit to play this weekend's important game against Belenenses. See on the photo a finger on his left hand is still kept immobile.




Eduardo- #1 goalkeeper from Braga.

Portugal 1-0 Finland (Feb 11, 2009): In goal. Played the first 61 minutes. He was replaced by Daniel Fernandes.

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Will Nani, Miguel Veloso, Simao Sabrosa, Paolo Ferreira be starting in the next Portugal game, Sweden v. Portugal, March 28, 2009?

Photo: Nani, Miguel Veloso, Simao Sabrosa, Paolo Ferreira, Euro 2008 training camp. Comic visiting the team.

Will they be in the starting lineup in the next Portugal game?
(March 28, 2009- Sweden v. Portugal)

What a difference 2 months make! Back in November, the answer was an obvious yes. Queiroz has been "renovating" the Portugal team and it looks like no player has their place guaranteed. Just ask Nuno Gomes.

The important games are coming up. Portugal has everything to lose by being 3rd in Group 1.

Nani- More chances to play in the next 2 games. His competition is practically gone. Unlikely that Carlos Queiroz will keep using competition:

Simao Sabrosa as a "permanent" winger with CR7.
Quaresma unfortunately had a bad first half of the season at Inter (Italy Serie A). Played in the starting lineup in the first month. 90 minutes in the important, world famous Milan derby. Gradually, Jose Mourinho reduced his playing time to 0 minutes. Quaresma couldn't adapt to the Serie A style of play and rhythm. He then lost his place to Figo. Now he has transferred to another club, Chelsea.


Miguel Veloso: bad luck in 2009-
He's not even injured yet he's not playing at from Sporting CP either. His move to another club in January 2009 was almost a given. That failed and coach Paolo Bento didn't think he was able to concentrate on Sporting CP and was dropped from the squad for a league game. Just like that.

Then in February 2009, he missed a training session without presenting a reason. Sporting coach dropped him from the Taça da Liga semi-final. The coach said later that Veloso clarified his situation but that he would train with the team 3 days later not immediately.



Photo: On February 5, he returned to the training session.

Late last year when he was playing he was even excluded from the sub 21 Portugal team! It was a long time that Miguel Veloso was NOT called up in EITHER of the Portugal teams! In the last friendly Portugal 1-0 Finland, Veloso was NOT called up.

competition:
Raul Meireles, Fernando Meira.


Simao Sabrosa- great season at Atletico Madrid- getting old and Queiroz wants to try "young" wingers like Danny, Nani and Quaresma.

Paolo Ferreira- Queiroz won't repeat Scolari's mistake of using Ferreira out of position as a left-back. He's calling up left-backs like Lecce's Antunes (22 years old) and Duda. He's now 30 years old. (Birthday on January 18, 1978) I suspect Queiroz is slowly leaving behind the "old Scolari team:" GK Ricardo, Paolo Ferreira, Nuno Gomes, and Simao Sabrosa.

Queiroz showed in yesterday's friendly that he plans to use Miguel as a right-back if Jose Bosingwa is unavailable.

-- Your thoughts on Nani, Miguel Veloso, Simao Sabrosa, Paolo Ferreira in the current Portugal team?

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Photo Joao Moutinho back in training for Sporting CP, Feb 12, 2009-

22 year-old Portugal midfielder, Joao Moutinho training with Sporting CP, Feb 12, 2009.

On February 8, 2009-the Sporting CP captain will have played 95 consecutive games for Sporting. He has not missed a Sporting CP game since April 7, 2007.

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Eliseu- new player stayed on the bench- Video of his family watching Portugal 1-0 Finland

Queiroz shocked many people when he called 3 new players Goncalo Brandao, goalkeeper Eduardo and Eliseu. Only 2 of them played in yesterday's Portugal 1-0 Finland.

Eliseu stayed on the bench. Here's a video of his Eliseu's family watching the Portugal 1-0 Finland game at his mom's (Nene) restaurant.

Naturally they were sad because Eliseu didn't get to play.

Eliseu had already played for Portugal in the Under-20 team and even scored a goal in the Toulon tournament.

Photo Cristiano Ronaldo honored before game Portugal 1-0 Finland, Feb 11, 2009

February 11, 2009- The Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF) - Portuguese FA - honored Cristiano Ronaldo, for having won the FIFA Player of the year award. Photo: ©FPF Francisco Paraíso

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CR7 7th top goalscorer in Portugal team- Photos Cristiano Ronaldo, in Portugal 1-0 Finland, Feb 11, 2009- 22nd goal, 61st international cap

After yesterday's goal, Cristiano Ronaldo is 7th on the Selecção portuguesa top-scorer list. Two more goals and he jumps to fifth place. Easily could be done in the next 2 qualification matches.

Selecção portuguesa top-scorer list
1 Pauleta - 47 goals
2 Eusébio - 41 goals
3 Luís Figo - 32 goals
4 Nuno Gomes - 29 goals
5 Rui Costa - 26 goals
6 João Vieira Pinto - 23 goals
7 Nené - 22 goals
7 Cristiano Ronaldo - 22 goals
9 Simão Sabrosa - 18 goals
10 Rui Jordão - 15 goals

Photos of Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal 1-0 Finland, Feb 11, 2009



Feb 11, 2009- Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating his goal in Portugal 1-0 Finland.




Feb 11, 2009- Orlando Sa' and Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal 1-0 Finland.




Feb 11, 2009- Orlando Sa' hugging Cristiano Ronaldo after he scored the penalty in Portugal 1-0 Finland.



Feb 11, 2009- Cristiano Ronaldo after he scored the penalty in Portugal 1-0 Finland.

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Video highlights Portugal 1-0 Finland, Feb 11, 2009-

Feb 11, 2009- Video highlights Portugal 1-0 Finland. In Portuguese.

00:00- 00:18- Cristiano Ronaldo being honored by the FPF before the game with a plaque.

00:27 Saves by Finland goalkeeper

00:36 Penalty action. "Foul" on Orlando Sa. Record and O Jogo were skeptical and said that it was not a penalty at all.

Video Goncalo Brandao, Orlando Sa the new players in the Portugal team- post game reaction Portugal 1-0 Finland, Feb 11, 2009-

Feb 11, 2009- Video Goncalo Brandao, in Portuguese, post game reaction Portugal 1-0 Finland-

00:00 Goncalo Brandao: "There's still a lot to do to achieve the objective. Today the coach chose me. I gave my best. I know I could give more."

Orland Sa: "It had more intensity. I will keep working to take advantage of these fantastic opportunities."

What did you think of his performance in Portugal 1-0 Finland? The penalty?

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Video Cristiano Ronaldo about Scolari post-game reaction Portugal 1-0 Finland, Feb 11, 2009 in Portuguese

Feb 11, 2009 -Video Cristiano Ronaldo in Portuguese, post-game reaction Portugal 1-0 Finland,

Cristiano Ronaldo: "Scolari is a great coach. Those things happen. The team needed a new challenge and that's what happened. I personally was very sad because he is a friend. Those are things that happen in soccer.

When the results don't appear, the one who pays is always a the coach. That's what happened. He's calm. He's a great coach."

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Video Tiago, Eduardo, Nani, Maniche speaking after the Portugal 1-0 Finland game

Here are some Portugal players in the "mixed zone" after the Portugal 1-0 Finland game, on Feb. 11, 2009.

00:00 Gk Eduardo- yes we wil qualify.
00:05 Tiago: "We need to improve our finishing skills."

00:20 Nani: "We needed a little more luck. We did have bad results lately. WE need to correct them. We know we can give more and do better."

00:30 Maniche: "We're going to give our very best. The truth is that in Brazil we messed up. That is over. I think the team did pretty well."

00:49 Cristiano Ronaldo: "I liked the game. I think the team did well. We had the majority of the chances. The ball wouldn't go in. The team that deserved to win, won."

01:10 Duda [the left-back]: "The Professor is looking for players. There's an open door for everyone. I hope he can keep counting on me."

01:49 Orlando Sa [new player]: "I did my best for the team."

01:45 Eduardo [new player, goalkeeper] : "Rolando is a very good player. He's going to learn a lot. At Braga he hasn't had much opportunities. He'll give everyone something to talk about."

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Video Cristiano Ronaldo honored before Portugal 1-0 Finland, Feb 11, 2009

Rightly so, FPF (Portuguese FA) honored Cristiano Ronaldo for winning the FIFA player of the year. This was right before the game Portugal 1-0 Finland, Feb 11, 2009.

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Covers of Cristiano Ronaldo in Portuguese papers Feb 12, 2009

Because the only goal Portugal scored was from a penalty, the papers focused on the team's inability to score in action. That overshadowed Cristiano Ronaldo's goal # 22 for Portugal.

See some covers:

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Lineups, Video goal Portugal 1-0 Finland Feb 11, 2009 friendly- Cristiano Ronaldo scores penalty, 22nd goal for his country

PORTUGAL 1-0 FINLAND
Estádio do Algarve, em Faro, 20:30

Portugal substitutions:
46' Pepe out, Raul Meireles in
46' Tiago out, Maniche in
57' Hugo Almeida out, Orlando Sá in
61' Gk Eduardo out, Daniel Fernandes in
62' Miguel out, Paulo Ferreira in
77' Nani out, Danny in

Finland substitutions:
46' Jussi Jääskeläinen out, Niki Mäenpää in
46' Mikael Forssell out, Daniel Sjölund in
46' Jari Litmanen out, Shefki Kuqi in
79' Joonas Kolkka out, Juha Hakola in

Lineups:
PORTUGAL - Eduardo; Miguel, Bruno Alves, Rolando and Duda; Deco, Pepe e Tiago; Nani, Hugo Almeida e Cristiano Ronaldo.

Substitutes: Daniel Fernandes, Paulo Ferreira, Gonçalo Brandão, João Moutinho, Maniche, Raul Meireles, Danny, Eliseu e Orlando Sá.

Coach: Carlos Queiroz.

FINLAND- Jääskeläinen; Pasanen, Tihinen, Hyypia e Kallio; Johannson, Heikinen, Eremenko e Kolkka; Litmanen e Forssell.

Substitutes: Mäenpää, Lampi, Pasoja, Sparv, Sjölund, Kuqi, Petrescu, Sadik e Hakola.

Coach: Stuart Baxter.
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Feb 11, 2009- Video highlights Portugal 1-0 Finland. In Portuguese.

00:00- 00:18- Cristiano Ronaldo being honored by the FPF before the game with a plaque.

00:27 Saves by Finland goalkeeper

00:36 Penalty action. "Foul" on Orlando Sa. Record and O Jogo were skeptical and said that it was not a penalty at all.











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Did they have to wait til the 80th minute? Stay 0-0 in the first half? You're playing at home against Finland not a top 5 team. If it wasn't for a set-piece would it have been another 0-0. I'm happy for Cristiano Ronaldo who finally scored for Portugal.

I'm worried that the Portugal team might struggle again against another Scandinavian team, Sweden in the 2010 world cup qualifier. It was 0-0 in the first leg.

After Brazil 6-2 Portugal, I had said "Tenho saudades de Scolari (I miss Scolari)" Now that he's without a job, it is too late for him to come back. Queiroz is starting that "renovation" and has little time to show good results. We have no choice but too wait and hope Portugal is no longer 3rd in Group 1.

Hearing it on Antena1 it was strange to hear so many new names in the starting lineup. AND that Paolo Ferreira was on the bench and came in so late. It's an exciting time to see new players, Eduardo the goalkeeper, Rolando, and Orlando Sa. Wonder who Queiroz will keep as first choice goalkeeper, Eduardo or Daniel Fernandes. Both of them played today.

Could only say I'm cautiously optimistic.

Defense- Miguel starting, Pepe and Rolando

Midfield- Queiroz tested Tiago with Deco but their similar styles overlapped in the first half. Looks like Raul Meireles and Moutinho will start in the next Portugal game and Tiago will need to wait for his chance.

Forwards- Couldn't believe Danny came in later in the game.

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Sub21 Portugal 3-1 Switzerland, Feb 10, 2009

The Selecção Nacional Sub-21 won yesterday in the friendly against Switzerland! I remember the sad days when it was coached by Jose Couceiro in 2007. His assistant coach Rui Cacador was assigned as the temporary coach when Couceiro was sacked. Cacador's positive results led the FPF to name him as the head coach.

Tough to follow it because the Nanis, Miguel Velosos, and Moutinho's are no longer there like in 2006/7. Two new players in today's Portugal 1-0 Finland came from this Sub-21 group. Looking forward to more positive results with Rui Cacador.

Portugal 3-1 Switzerland.
Estádio Municipal de Fátima, Portugal
February 10, 2009

Goals:
Portugal: Amaury Bishoff (4'), Tiago Pinto (30') e Yazalde (58')

Switzerland: Djuric Igor (86')

Sub21 Portugal coach Rui Caçador, saw his team score the first goal by the fourth minute. By the 30th minute, it was 2-0, goal by Tiago Pinto. 58th minute: 3-0, goal by Yazalde. Switzerland scored a goal in the 86th minute.

Benfica's Pereirinha.Photo: ©LUSA Paulo Cunha

Most popular players in this young team this are Sporting CP's goalkeeper Rui Patricio, Benfica's Pereirinha.

Portugal lineup: Ventura (Trigueira, 87'), João Gonçalves (André Pinto, 46'), Daniel Carriço (Bura, 46'), Miguel Vítor, Tiago Pinto (Igor Pita, 59'), Stélvio Cruz, Pereirinha - CAP , Adrien Silva (Ruben Lima, 78'), Amaury Bishoff (Rui Pedro, 59'), Yazalde (João Aurélio, 87') e Ukra (Licá, 46').

Switzerland lineup: Yann Sommer - CAP (Kevin Fickentscher, 73), Mihael Kovacevic (Gaetano Berardi, 46), Jonathan Rossini, Rolf Feltscher (Djuric Igor, 46), Jonas Elmer (Daniel Pavlovic, 46), Xavier Hochstrasser, Adrian Nikci (Frank Feltscher, 46), Fabien Frei, Valentin Stocker, Simone Grippo (Adilson Tavares, 70) e Alessandro Ciarocchi (Mário Gavranovic, 75).

Portugal's first goal:

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Video Nuno Gomes soccer boot signing, interview in Portuguese January 28, 2009

Lucky fans who stood in line to see Nuno Gomes at this soccer boot-signing. The main point of this event was the Adidas soccer boot, it was funny to see the reporter ask what they thought about it, and they answered, 'No, I'm here to meet Nuno Gomes, long-time fan'.

Video- Nuno Gomes Sessao de autografo January 28, 2009, interview in Portuguese

English translation:
00:15 Reporter: "So what's different about this soccer boot?
Nuno Gomes: "It's very comfortable."

00:34 Reporter: "My question is why are YOU here to present this soccer boot?"

The young man Fernando Alvim, who put it together says that he was a fan of Nuno Gomes since his days at Boavista. Nuno Gomes and him start joking around.
01:18 Nuno Gomes: "I heard you played at the Dragao." Young man: "Well, that's a period of my life that, far away, I forget."

01:27 Nuno Gomes: "Now I'm going to say something personal. Well, I'm sure his friends know."
Young man: "I also know how to do this." [He uses his fingers to put his hair behind his ears, so Nuno Gomes in the pictures. That was the funniest part. Nuno Gomes just smiles when he sees him do that.]

Screenshots of the video:

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