Preview: England vs. Portugal

July 1st, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

GAME DETAILS
England vs. Portugal, Gelsenkirchen, 17:00 CET
Travel to Gelsenkirchen
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World Cup Gear: England | Portugal

THE BIG PICTURE
A re-match of the 1966 World Cup semifinals. England enters the game having grinded their way through the first round and a round of 16 win against Ecuador. England has not been able to generate much on the offensive end, but its defense has been well organized and effective. Today they take on a Portugal team that endured a brutal game against the Netherlands. Portugal will be without Deco and Costinha who both must sit out for their actions last game. England and Portugal last met in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 when the Portuguse won on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Apart from that game, Portugal have got the better of England on three other occasions. England have beaten Portugal nine times in 21 meetings, with the remainder drawn.

Teams: Likely formation; shirt numbers, name, caps, goals, coach:
England (4-5-1): 1-Paul Robinson (25-0); 2-Gary Neville (80-0), 5-Rio Ferdinand (51-1), 6-John Terry (28-1), 3-Ashley Cole (50-0); 7-David Beckham (93-17), 8-Frank Lampard (44-11), 16-Owen Hargreaves (32-0), 4-Steven Gerrard (46-9), 11-Joe Cole (36-6); 9-Wayne Rooney (32-11) Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson

Portugal (4-5-1): 1-Ricardo (53-0); 13-Miguel (32-1), 16-Ricardo Carvalho (28-1), 5-Fernando Meira (34-2), 14-Nuno Valente (26-1); 8-Armando Petit (40-4), Maniche (35-6), 11-Simao Sabrosa (47-10), 7-Luis Figo (124-32), 17-Cristiano Ronaldo (35-12); 9-Pauleta (85-47). Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari

LIVEBLOG
Follow the match highlights as they happen on the England vs. Portugal LiveBlog and stop by to leave your thoughts and comments about the match

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England

In England, in the 1880’s, “Pants” was considered a dirty word.

The word sugar is the only English word starting with SU where the S is pronounced SH.

In Elizabethan England the spoon was such a novelty, such a prized rarity, that people carried their own folding spoons to banquets.

England Team Blog
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Portugal

Portugal is the number one alcohol consuming country per capita in the world.

The largest cork tree in the world is in Portugal. It averages over one ton of raw cork per harvest. That’s enough to cork 100,000 bottles.

Portugal has the oldest borders in the world, established in 1249.

Portugal Team Blog
Team Roster
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TEAM BLOGS & DISCUSSIONS

England Team Blog
Portugal Team Blog

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kailash kutwaroo

1. How will Portugal cope without deco? Who will replace him?

2. Is the Portugese defence good enough to cope with Rooney?
Vanessa.

Me, being a portuguese fan, I am rooting for Portugal to beat England. Yes, England is a great team. But where were they when we got second in the euro cup. I think that the Portuguese may actually go on, being undeafeated.
Marcia

I am an english fan, and I’m sure England is going to win this match against Portugal because we are going for the revenge from the Euro 2004. Portugal won because the best players of England were resting while in the end. Portugal is not going to be a surprise for anybody, they have goos players but that is not enough for England’s revenge…
leave it to beaver

1- according to the russian ref, he was suprised that it was the dutch who were the cheats.
2-the dutch FA sent an apology letter to the portuguese for the dirty game they performed
3-please check the records for the last time porugal had a red card given.
4-THE BRITS ARE GOING TO LOSE AND BLAME THE WEATHER, THE FIELD,THE FANS, OR THIER HOLIGANS NOT BEING ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE. wHO KNOWS MAYBE EVEN ON BRITNEY SPEARS.

5- 3-0 PORTUGAL(FIGO, RONALDO, PAULETA)
Shona

Any teacher of English will tell you that there are more words than Sugar with SU pronounced as SH!!!
What about Sure!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA armando

Can’t wait, should be a good one, i hope no official is going to ruin it for us!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA
http://deleted Karl

“The word sugar is the only English word starting with SU where the S is pronounced SH.”

Are you SURE about that?
Jason

In this game England should choke as usual, and all the tabliods are all going to blame everyone, Sven,Rooney, the weather, the ref, the fans, the ref. England’s a bit like Spain actually, promises heaps, delivers nothing, a word to English fans get used to dissapointment, (Then again your rugby team got thrashed by Australia} By the way I’m from Australia
Deviilz.

Guys..,my bookies gave me these odds for this match:
England to win by a goal or more margin within the 90mins.
Any tips from ya’all..?
Paul

I just wish all the English fans stop talking about the 1966 World Cup. We get it OK, and anyway Brazil have won it 5 times, Uruguay has won it twice, that’s one more than England.
Philippe

catch this game live on your phone with play by play commentary!

download KickOff 2006 from http://www.getjar.com/products/5424/KickOff2006
Dave Hamilton

I have eaten so much humble pie I am going on a dessert diet, but for the record: 1-0 Portugal. Scolari is the better coach by far, and will have to be with Costinha and Deco on the sidelines.

Dave hmaildav@yahoo.com
TIJJANI TAURA

Portuguese is the team to win the game against England cos,they have strongest players for which any football supporting friend knows.Ilove portugal than my mother country.
TIJJANI TAURA

tj taura from nigeria.PORTUGAL GO FOR GOLD
http://www.fussballwmblog.de/ eric peter

Victory 4 England!
2:1.
Deviilz.

OMG..!!!
Frank the lamb cannot score at all…!!
http://u.s.a monster master

playing soccer against england is like playing with your kids.
portugal can beat england with closed eyes.for sure no doubt son.
IOAN TODIROAE (i_todiroae@yahoo.fr 21:17 sa01.07.2006 Piatra-Neamt)

Data : sa017\2006
Campionatul Mondial de Fotbal 2006
Coupe du Monde de Football 2006
Football Coupe du Monde 2006
FIFA WORLD CUP 2006
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany
Sferturile de finala

Rezultat final : Anglia / England 1 Portugalia / Portugal 3
cam

i dont see united states making it to the quarter finals and england can be untied states anyday.
http://WorldCupblog soccer player

portugal can beat all
http://WorldCupblog soccer player

portugal can beat all the team