Angola Vs. Portugal

[The_Game]

Who wins this game?

[bernardo8]

portugal 3 0 angola
or 4 1

[Hat_trick_3]

Angola will approach this game with a defensive posture. They'll place two experienced forwards (Akwa is very dangerous, and I'm obviously biased towards Mantorras, who plays at my club, but he won't start), widespread up front, locking the Portuguese rearwings in defense and hoping for a counter-attack chance from one of the many defensive blunders Portugal is so famous for. The remaining 8 angolan midfielders and defenders will give all they have on holding back the veritable onslaught that'll come from some of Europe's most prolific forwards (likely Figo, Deco, Ronaldo and Pauleta). For a while, at least...

Playing the clock, rough tackles, fake injuries, abuse of fair-play... and maybe Angola'll be able to score first and hold on to their advantage. USA and S.Korea did it last world cup, Greece won the Euro like that, so why shouldn't Angola try to steal a few points from the first match?

Realistically... Angola's just too inexperienced to "pull a Greece" at this time. They'll crumble like a card-castle. This was precisely why Scholari had them play Cape Verde and Luxembourg last week, instead of an offensive-minded team (Portugal played Saudi Arabia and Croatia for that). Hard-fought first halves, maybe... And after Portugal scored once - a goal feast.

My prediction? Angola won't get a single point from this match. They'll let a goal slip by at the end of the first half, go berserk trying to invert the score during the second half and turn into a punchbag for it. Portugal wins 3 points.

[Calif]

Portugal

[Fenerliyim]

this question shouldnt be asked, ofcourse Portugal

[kaimillie]

Is pauletta that good? i hear of his abilities here in england and his record in the qualifyers.

[Hat_trick_3]

Pauleta played in the spanish league (Deportivo de La Coruña, his club, won it that year), and moved to France in 2000, for Bordeux, and he's now at PSG. He's been pretty successful there, he scores alot, and just turned down a contract from Lyon a few weeks ago.

In the qualifiers he was a statistic machine, yes, the top scorer in Eu-zone. However, he's the type of stryker that mostly scores on counter-attack changes (often caught offside), meaning the vast amount of goals he's earned happened against weaker teams forced to over-extend themselves beyond their capabilities.

Personally, I don't think he's very adapted to the 4-2-3-1 Portugal plays. Pauleta's insistance at only playing at the offside limit, never moving back to work the ball in the midfield often creates a large gap between our midfield/attacking lines, and forces Deco (who plays behind him) to overcompensate for this by exhausting himself running forward and back like a madman. By 70 minute, Deco's dead, and has to be replaced (everytime).

Scholari's answer to this is to force one of the wingers inside (Figo and Ronaldo, whoever doesn't have the ball) to support Pauleta and Deco, and have the wing-gap filled by a rear winger (and the rear winger's gap filled by the defensive midfielder, centre-backs move forward, and so on).

Somewhat of a mess, and can leave the team exposed... But Nuno Gomes hasn't won a starting place yet, so that's what Scholari can do. And Pauleta's good, they just have to work with his style of play.

[kaimillie]

good reply hat-trick, what u think your chances are in this wc? i think u'll sail through the quallies, and anything can happen after that to any big side.

[Hat_trick_3]

With Argentina or Holland on fire (with a vengeance for the Euro 2004) coming right up, I'd say they're not very good. After the group stage, it's a coin-toss, only hardened teams this time. I mean, Germany, England, Brasil, Italy, France, Spain, Brasil, Holland, Argentina, they all want to win it. Much, much more than in 2002, like there's something to prove this time. Plus, there are all those non-canon teams like Iran, USA and Serbia wanting to prove the old school is dead, that there are new heroes on the rise. And they may be right.

But who, knows... What I can say is that whoever takes us down usually goes very far: England 66, they won it, Euro 2000, France won it, 2002 it was USA and Korea, look at how far they went, and Euro 2004, Greece... *sigh*...

[Hat_trick_3]

Did I mention Brasil?

[caruiz93]

definately portugal.

[LovingPortugal]

I hope Portugal wins, and i think we will, but i don't underestimate Angola, it wouldn't be the first time a so called ''inferior'' team beats us :( . I watched Angola play agaisnt Turkey and they did play well the first half, the second half their defence was weak and they were all over the place but imo Angola isn't as bad as everyone say they are.

[caruiz93]

angola will be denfensive but portugal is bound to score at sometime.when this happens angola will fel that even by being defensive they cant stop portugal so they will be a mess and thats when portugal will starta goals fest.

[kauzi1]

Angola are gonna force a draw.its a pity they had to start with Portugal.Had they started with Iran they would have hada chance of sneakin in 2nd position.It may still be possible though.me thinks there is a conspiracy against african teams.Ivory coast starts with Argentina(big favourites) Ghana with italy (big Favourites) and Angola with Portugal (2nd tier favourites) ........this is too much

[portugal hero]

Angola are gonna force a draw.its a pity they had to start with Portugal.Had they started with Iran they would have hada chance of sneakin in 2nd position.It may still be possible though.me thinks there is a conspiracy against african teams.Ivory coast starts with Argentina(big favourites) Ghana with italy (big Favourites) and Angola with Portugal (2nd tier favourites) ........this is too much

This is off-topic but I wouldn't be suprised if ghana gets a draw against Italy.

I am both angolan and portuguese but I prefer portugals soccer team since I know way more about it.

[vojvoda]

Portugal - Angola 5:0! :D

[caruiz93]

Not That Violent It Will Be More Like 30-0

[Hat_trick_3]

So far, 97% chance of Portugal winning, 3% losing, no chance for a draw. Well... I like those odds.

[phil26]

I agree and (cross my fingers) that Portugal will win this match, likely by a 2 or 3 goal margin.

However never count out teams like Ivory Coast and Angola, who have nothing to lose and everything to prove. Look at Senegal last time around.

Either way, I'm excited, it should be a great tournament.

Cheers,

[mid_miestro4]

portugal has got this one wraped up. at least 3-0 win.

[benfica64]

POrtugal will walk with this one.Portugal will not take Angola lightly (rightfully so) and thats why they will walk with this one.

[almouchie]

sure to be a great match
like father & son playing
country & colony
several of the angolese players play in portugal & have switched alliance to play in their birth country

[kauzi1]

This is off-topic but I wouldn't be suprised if ghana gets a draw against Italy.

I am both angolan and portuguese but I prefer portugals soccer team since I know way more about it.

That is always the problem.We tend to underrate the teams we have heard nothing from.I guess its human nature.........i am sure the poles will have a speech to give about underestimation.
Hope it turns out to be a WC of surprises like 2002.
All the underdogs ...........this is your WC

[garygiam]

:thumbsup: portugal

[benficafan]

Portugal 4-1 Angola

[Antagonist]

my prediction for the match is portugal 3 angoola 0. although, the portuguese will suffer againts mexico and iran.

[Whirlpool]

Portugal screws it up again, Angola 2, Portugal 2

they'll have to fight tougher teams in iran and mexico for life

[damas64]

Portugal :boo:
As always they will fall on their faces, I predict 0-0 or Angola will defeat them.

[benfica64]

Portugal :boo:
As always they will fall on their faces, I predict 0-0 or Angola will defeat them.

your team is not only not ready yet but had you 3 lifetimes to live, you still would yet see the USA win the CUp.

[damas64]

your team is not only not ready yet but had you 3 lifetimes to live, you still would yet see the USA win the CUp.
Says who? You? You?<<<<< :boo: :boo: :boo: :boo:
:D :D :D

[Traveldude50]

1 hour until kickoff, cant wait for some more soccer

[Maxpayne]

1:0 for portugal

What a beautiful goal by Pauleta in 3-d minute. awesome gameplay and pass

[Fenerliyim]

great goal by portugal. Great move by figo.


Pauleta almost scored again for portugal. this is going to be a great game

[Bosanac]

How old is Figo? This guy is running like he's in his mid-twenties.

[Fenerliyim]

i will be adding the goals live today. The goals will be in the SFN soccer video section:

http://forums.soccerfansnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=43658

[Fenerliyim]

ooo that was close shot by portugal

[Fenerliyim]

C.Ronaldo got a yellow

Angolan player Jamba just got a yellow as well. He rammed C.Ronaldo real hard.

[Fenerliyim]

C.Ronaldo had a header which hit the crossbar.

[Dutchfan]

Good game so far!! After Portugal's early goal I thought they might run away with things, and they HAVE had some good opportunities since then, but I thought Angola played itself back into the match pretty well, and even created a few good chances of its own. Looking forward to the second half!! No matter what happens, I think I've enjoyed watching the matches from Group D the most of any, so far!

[Dutchfan]

How old is Figo? This guy is running like he's in his mid-twenties.Yeah, on the Portugal goal I was wondering who the speedster was who blew by the Angolan defender. Then when I saw that it was Figo I was like, "WHOA!!!" What's HE been drinking?!?

[Fenerliyim]

This is match has been the most entertaining the whole wc. I hope it stays this way. Many oppurtunities for Portugal and as u said Angola has had some oppurtunities as well. C.Ronaldo is going to score, hes been close about 4 times.

[Maple-Greek]

Angola started out nervous and Portugal came out flying. Later in the half Portugal started to slow down and Angola gained some confidence.

This is the first time I've seen Angola play and they are a decent team, but like with Iran they are too slow and their conditioning isn't good enough.

I do think if they work hard they can tie the game.

Let's see what happens.

[Kaysa]

This game is pretty decent. I think it'd be better if I hadn't had that 2nd helping of mexican tampico.

[paul1]

good game, figo really puttin his heart in it for his country, angola playing very well considering the quality difference in the teams, only 1 - 0!

[Dutchfan]

Second half not quite as exciting as the first. As with some other teams I've seen in this tournament, Angola didn't seem especially interested in tying its match in the second half. So México in first place in Group D, with Portugal next. Interesting to see how this group will shake out, though obviously those two teams have the edge at the moment.

[benfica64]

game over Portugal wins it 1-0 . HAts off to Angola they played some brilliant football at times in this game, Portugal had some chances but over all slowed down and didnt play all that good. Still Will take the Win.

[Maxpayne]

Not really happy with Portugal. I predicted 2:0 and they could score this 2-nd goal easily but they like usually happy with the win only, not goals. Thats the main reason why i didin't predicted any right result yet...

Gotta give respect to Angola, I didn't expected such a fight from them!

[caruiz93]

im dissapointed i expected a blowout 4-0.but oh well i guess they have to settle for second place in the group for noe(goal difference)


mexico won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!woo hoo alot of bitches said mexico would loose but they won 3-1

[Kyle4000]

portegal is a weak team i am shocked angola didnt trash them
mexis wont be going far they will flop like they always do
iran what the hek they doing in world cup anyways they were pethetic today, that game was awefel

[tdr]

I don't like Portugal but I like the way they played today aggressive but not aggressive too much so they would get called for it. In the second half they kept the ball as much as they could which is what the team with the lead is supposed to do. If that 2nd goal went in then Portugal would have opened up the scoring.
Angola played much better in the second half but they were too timid to say the least. They should have responded with some aggressivness.

Match Portugal vs. Mexico is circled on my calendar.

[lordjohn78]

People, dont forget this: Deco didn't play, he was injured... He's crucial like Maniche and Costinha. I hope Mr. Scolari include that 3 players against Iran.

Today, we didn't see the real Portugal. And who saw Portugal playing in Euro 2004 knows that.

[lightwave]

Portugal sucks...Jesus...It was boring!

Portugal,Spain,Mexico....all the same.

[benfica64]

portegal is a weak team i am shocked angola didnt trash them
mexis wont be going far they will flop like they always do
iran what the hek they doing in world cup anyways they were pethetic today, that game was awefel

there about as weak as the Irish??????? (lol)

[benfica64]

Portugal sucks...Jesus...It was boring!

Portugal,Spain,Mexico....all the same.

Portugal stunk it big time, yet still able to win?? shows you the talent base. Enjoy the games.

[Rab.C.Nesbitt]

Fair play to Angola. They proved that they are in the World Cup not to make the numbers up. Out of all honesty, after Pauleta scored after 4 mins, a lot of people were expecting the goals to flood in. They put up a good fight after that.

[benfica64]

Fair play to Angola. They proved that they are in the World Cup not to make the numbers up. Out of all honesty, after Pauleta scored after 4 mins, a lot of people were expecting the goals to flood in. They put up a good fight after that.

I have alot of admiration for that Angola team, after a quick goal like that most teams would buckle and be rattled and for a team Like Angola first time in a world cup in the big stage I applaude the way they came back and played with reserve and heart. They played Well without question. They are alot better than most give them credit for. This game even though Portugal played fairly Bad, Showed all that Angola can indeed play the game.

[soccerfansUNITE]

PortuGoaalllllllllllllllllllll

[benfica64]

PortuGoaalllllllllllllllllllll

I HEAR YAH BROooooooo!

[Salaminas]

where is greece huh?where is the euro cup you loosers? :P

[voxpop]

where is greece huh?where is the euro cup you loosers? :P

I didnt get your point... :nono:

[benfica64]

I didnt get your point... :nono:
hey bro what is that clown talking about???? I dont get it either, he just comes on this forum and says losers?????? must be bitter at not making the world cup i take it.

[bernardo8]

there about as weak as the Irish??????? (lol)

i think hes kindo f pissed since portugal was in the same group as ireland and ireland didnt make it while portugal was just great in the qualies

[benfica64]

i think hes kindo f pissed since portugal was in the same group as ireland and ireland didnt make it while portugal was just great in the qualies

that just may be it. Anyways looking forward to seeing the Brazil game tommoro as I have always been a fan of there NT Iam rooting for Portugal heart and Soul but also like to see Brazil win as they my Second all time favs. In fact I have cheered them on every world cup being most Portugal wasnt even in it. To bad its against Croatia being I like the Croats have some good friends that are croats and a sister in law as well, more so I simply like How they play could be abit more offensive but generally they are more offensive minded than alot. Anyway I tell you when Brazil is all connecting as A unit it is something else pure magic and poetry on the field when they play like that nothing NO TEAM comes even close to da magic. Hopefully the Portugal/Mexico game will be a very interesting/exciting game.

[OfTheJuNgle]

wow that was a real boring match
just 1 thing, who the ***k cristiano ronaldo think he is? hes acting like a denilson, just trying to show himself for the world and dont play for the team. Stupid fukin kid, go try to learn with ronaldinho

[benfica64]

wow that was a real boring match
just 1 thing, who the ***k cristiano ronaldo think he is? hes acting like a denilson, just trying to show himself for the world and dont play for the team. Stupid fukin kid, go try to learn with ronaldinho

but wouldnt you love to be him (lol) money fame and chicks. Cant be all that stupid after all (lol)

[beirario]

at least he is on field ......tiago and simão are the usual shit players that alllways play VERY bad for the national team

[caruiz93]

any player can replace cristiano ronaldo.maybe he has got superb talent but he isnt using it to help the team just to make himself feel better,so anyone thats a team player would be better.

[benfica64]

at least he is on field ......tiago and simão are the usual shit players that alllways play VERY bad for the national team

Simao is a real good player Tiago abit worse as far as talent goes but your right they both played like crap in that opening game I sure hope they both play much better in the next One.

[tiagovsky]

Is pauletta that good? i hear of his abilities here in england and his record in the qualifyers.

Pauleta was considered for two years in a row, the best foreign player in french championship. Should I add that he was considered that, outshining Ronaldinho who played for PSG back then?.. :faint2: