Video- "Scolari needed to make changes much earlier..." Portuguese fans disappointed after the Switzerland 2-0 Portugal euro 2008 game

Do you think Scolari needed to make changes earlier like this Portuguese fan said on the video?

Portugal lost- bad performance- 1st half a little better than 2nd half. Switzerland 2-0 Portugal -2 goals by Yakim

Photo: Bench: Nuno Gomes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nuno-gk

I'm too sad- can't talk. I must say Switzerland's 2nd goal didn't surprise me. Portugal had it coming.

Will write about it tomorrow- Have plans for tonight.

Some quick thoughts...

No midfield. Less and less possession of the ball in the 2nd half. I can't imagine how it would have been if Portugal stayed with 10 men. That foul by my favorite player Paolo Ferreira- worthy of a red card.

The referee not giving 2 penalty kicks in the 1st half because of fouls on Nani. If Switzerland was so strong, how come they didn't win any of their games, before this one?

Key players went to the bench.

2nd photo: "A penny for your thoughts." Cristiano Ronaldo, Nuno, my favorite Ricardo Carvalho.

I wonder what they thought in the last 10 minutes of the game. Switzerland practically was pushed by the home crowd and their attitude. Where was Portugal's attitude or "garra?"

Here's a photo of Portugal's Miguel, Arsenal's Philippe Senderos, Portugal #2 Paolo Ferreira.

1st half.

In the 1st 15 minutes whenever the Portugal team caused some threat it was because right-back Miguel would go forward in the Switzerland half of the field, and cross it to Postiga or Nani.

When Miguel didn't have the ball, Raul Meireles, Miguel Veloso would do too many horiztontal passing then lose posession of the ball.

Is it time for Scolari to stop insisting on using Paolo Ferreira out of position? Stop using him as a left-back? Why even call him up if we know that the starting righ-backs will be 1st choice FC Porto's Bosingwa, then Valencia's Miguel, then Jorge Ribeiro.

Where are you watching Switzerland - Portugal euro 2008?

So where are you watching or hearing the euro 2008 game:

Switzerland - Portugal ?

I'm watching it on ESPN and hearing the commentary in portuguese online on antena1

They're saying that #7 Cristiano Ronaldo won't start. Miguel and Ferreira will. Pepe also because he needs to get to know the goalkeeper Ricardo, more connection. No Carvalho. FC Porto Bruno Alves and Meira. Postiga starting!!!! Not even Quaresma. Veloso starting too. That means Scolari used 20 of its 23 man squad. Rui Patriciao, gk, Ribeiro and another one not played.

What do you think of the game? Your predictions?

Portugal has to win :)

Video- Portuguese fans following the Portugal team to Basel!

Supporters portugais à Bale
Uploaded by torpedo13

Let me know what you think after watching it!

Forward Nuno Gomes to the bench, Ricardo still starting- says Scolari today for tomorrow's Switzerland - Portugal

Switzerland - Portugal
Basel - St. Jakob-Park

Update: June 14th press conference, Scolari said that in regard to the starting lineup: "I will make 5 or 6 changes, and then the 3 usual substitutions."

Scolari Confirmed only: goalkeeper Ricardo in goal

Scolari said to the bench: Nuno Gomes

Press Speculation: Bosingwa, already has a yellow card. Risks missing the next game with another yellow card.

Let's face it, the game against Switzerland is no longer a decisive one. Although I wouldn't underestimate Switzerland. They have the 12th man behind him. The home crowd. Who knows just how much they want to do their best for the fans. I think Portugal can underestimate the team and might risk conceding a goal in the end.

Portugal's starting 11 has been in these 2 games:
1-Ricardo
4-Bosingwa--- 15- Pepe---- 16-Carvalho--- 2- Ferreira

20 Deco---- 8-Petit------10- Moutinho

11-Simao ------7- Cristiano Ronaldo

21- Nuno Gomes

Now that we know Nuno Gomes won't start- Hugo Almeida or Helder Postiga?
If winger Simao is rested: Will Quaresma or Nani start?
In the midfield, if either Deco or Petit are rested, which one will start, Raul Meireles or Miguel Veloso. Veloso who until now hasn't played 1 single minute yet.

Nani and Quaresma at Viseu Portugal training for Euro 2008
Photo: euro2008.sapo.pt/multimedia/fotos/estagio_em_viseu

My predictions:

Out- Bosingwa IN Miguel

Out- Pepe--------- IN Fernando Meira.

Out- Simao-------- IN Quaresma

Out- Nuno Gomes--- IN Nani,

------later susbtituted with Helder Postiga

Out- Moutinho------ IN Miguel Veloso

Let's see how decisive Nani and Helder Postiga can be. And if Quaresma can score a tribela goal.

- So, which 5 of the starting 11 will rest? Who will be the 5 from the bench that replace them?

I feel: Happy

Video- Portuguese fans arriving at St. Jakob stadium, Basel for Switzerland - Portugal, June 15th

I was getting ready to watch the game in 3 hours. I went on the euro 2008 tag on videos.sapo.pt to see the latest euro2008Portugal news. There's this video of Portuguese fans arriving at St. Jakob stadium in Basel! Makes me want to be in Switzerland and jsut absorb all the Euro 2008 fever.

Still Partying- A Bola cover June 15th, day of euro 2008 quarterfinal Switzerland - Portugal

This one's fun.

A Bola

Always partying

An environment of euphoria surrounds the national team

Scolari: "FPF wansn't able to equal Chelsea's offer."

-- What did you think of the cover?

"5 or 6" changes in the Portugal starting lineup- Scolari, cover of O Jogo, Portuguese paper, June 15th

Today the cover wasn't as colorful as the other 2, the day of a Portugal game. Probably because Portugal already qualified. But I still would have rather seen a Portugal player than just Scolari on the cover. Here's the cover of O Jogo, on June 15th, the day that Portugal plays its euro 2008 quarterfinal against Switzerland.

O Jogo

Leaving to Chelsea and the today's options explained only once

On the bench

-- Scolari says that Madail (Portuguese FA president) tried but didn't settle an agreement to stay on the bench

-- The manager announced "5 or 6" changes in the starting 11/lineup

-- Ricardo plays, Nuno Gomes no

"It was decided among the players that we will no longer talk about this. [Scolari as new Chelsea manager]" says Nuno Gomes- press conference June 14

If it's not Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid, it's Deco going to Inter probably, Moutinho to Barca, Carvalho with Jose..... Transfer Transfer Transfer.



Do the reporters know that Portugal was the 1st team to qualify to the quarter finals? Not to mention scored 5 goals in its 1st 2 euro 2008 games! How many did Italy score in its 1st 2 games? 1 How many goals did France score? 1.

Anyway, I'm glad Nuno Gomes firmly said no more.

In yesterday's press conference he announced:



About Scolari as new Chelsea manager:

"It was decided among the players that we will no longer talk about this. What had to be said was already said. The players are here concentrated and the manager too."

About the team spirit:

"the environment is the same, all calm."

About Scolari as manager: "He's a friendly manager with the players, with great human qualities. A good psychologist, which for us is good."



The legend Eusebio had said a few days earlier what many observers are saying- that Portugal needs strikers "um ponta-de-lança a sério." Of course, the press asked striker Nuno Gomes what he thought about that. Nuno Gomes diplomatically avoided commenting on that and instead praised Eusebio:

"Eusébio is the "king", the best, was the best in the world. He's my friend. Modern soccer is different from the time when he was playing. It was a conversation topic, of pranks with him, so there aren't any problems. I would have liked Eusebio to play next to me but...."

Here's the video where he praised Eusebio and answered that question about Eusebio saying Portubal needs strikers:

About the Switzerland - Portugal euro 2008 quarterfinal game:

"We won't hide that that's on our minds, but tomorrow's game we won't want to miss it. The team that goes on the pitch will play to do a good job."

"Our 1st objective was achieved and in this moment every team will be difficult. Everything that will come will be fine but our objective is to get to the final. First we'll be concentrated on who our opponent is in the quarter-final, that we need to go through in order to get to the final."

About facing Germany:

"In Euro 2004, to get to the final we needed to beat England and the Netherlands. In the World Cup, the same thing happened. There are always great teams. We don't fear anyone that we'll have to play."

About tomorrow's starting lineup:

"The team that will go on tomorrow will go on with the same determination of the previous games. The players are here because they have quality and they will give their best."

-What did you think of his statements?

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St Jakob Stadium for Switzerland -Portugal, not ideal UEFA forbid taking images of the soccer field, Portugal won't train there (Video, Photos)

Because of the heavy rain in Basel today, the soccer field in St. Jakob Stadium is not ideal for training. UEFA asked Portugal and Switzerland to not train at the stadium. The Portuguese FA agreed and will hold its last training and press conference at the La Madière stadium, in Neuchâtel.

From now on Portugal will play the rest of its games in this St. Jakob Stadium in Basel (the town of Roger Federer). The next Group A match, the quarterfinal on June 19th. The 1st two Portugal games were at Stade de Geneve in Geneva.

Can't wait for tomorrow and see a Portugal victory. Here's a video of the outside of St. Jacob stadium, and a little of yesterday's training.

Here are some photos of how the St. Jakob stadium looks from the outside today June 14th.

Basel - St. Jakob-Park, June 14, 2008.

Basel - St. Jakob-Park, June 14, 2008- Inauguration: 25 April 1954, First match: Switzerland-Germany, Capacity: 33,200 (9,000 standing places)

Basel - St. Jakob-Park, June 14, 2008- Home of FC Basel, club.

It is the largest football venue in Switzerland and home to FC Basel club. The capacity was increased to 42,500 for the Euro 2008. The stadium is divided into four main blocks, A, B, C and D.

Within the stadium,

• 32 shops on three different floors,
• 2 restaurants (the "Restaurant UNO" and "Hattrick Sports Bar")
• has parking spaces for 680 cars on two different floors.
• awarded 4 stars by UEFA, which is the highest amount of stars that can be awarded to a stadium of that size.

The stadium's official website, in English www.baselunited.ch/default.aspx?group=sjp&code=00&Lge_ID=1

Get a virtual tour of the soccer pitch! www.baselunited.ch/default.aspx?group=sjp&code=0902