REVIEW | USA v Portugal
Dramatic closing scenes at the Arena Amazonia as Porto winger Varela headed home a 95th minute equaliser to sees Portugal still in the World Cup by the finest of margins. The 2 – 2 draw means that the USA still have a job to do in their last match against heavyweights Germany.
The match started well for Portugal as they hit the lead after just 5 minutes. Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron fluffed his clearance which feel right to the feet of Portugal’s Nani to fire the opener into the top of the net. Most of the analysis of this goal has had the criticism laid onto Cameron but I think that goalkeeper Tim Howard also has to take some of the blame for going to ground before Nani even was set to strike the ball.
Portugal had 4 players missing for this match. Paulo Bento’s issues continued to stake up when Helder Postiga started to clutch at his hamstring forcing him to be substituted by lanky Braga striker Eder in the 16th minute.
The remaining half hour of the half saw Portugal content to sit on the 1 goal lead as the soaked up USA’s attacking raids which were focused down makeshift left back Andre Almeida’s side. The American’s did have a hand full of half chances that feel to Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley who were unable to draw their nation level. 3 minutes before the halftime whistle saw Portugal unleashed an almost deadly counter attack which saw Nani’s shot parried against the post before Eder was unable to finish the rebound past a determined Tim Howard who swatted it over the bar.
Portugal made their second change bringing on Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho for an injured Andre Almeida which saw Miguel Veloso shifted into the left back spot. This had many Portuguese fans worried that Portugal would just sit on the lead which for anyone who has watched a game or two of football would know is a very risky tactic.
The second half almost started similar to the first, with Eder volleying over the bar after another poor clearance from Cameron, before Fabian Johnson got forward to force Beto into a save.
In the 55th minute the USA must have thought they had equalised as Johnson cut back to Bradley unmarked in the middle of the box. Bradley had a decent enough shot somehow saved of the line by Portugal veteran Ricardo Costa who got his leg in the road.
In the 63rd minute to Portugal goal was breached after a clearance landed at Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones who slotted home a powerful strike just inside the far post. The USA deserved the equaliser as Portugal’s focus had really shifted away from playing positive football.
Portugal had a couple of chances to retake the lead however their lack of a clinical finished lead to the American’s breaking away to have Graham Zusi send in a low cross to captain Clint Dempsey who finished the ball with his stomach. That 81st minute goal sent the USA support in the stands into dreamland as they reminisced about the last time these two teams meet in a World Cup in 2002 when the USA defeated Portugal to send them bundling out.
Jurgen Klinsmann shifted the American’s focus to a more defensive approach to hold on to the 3 points that would have seen them as the first team to qualify out of Group G.
As the clock ticked down you could sense that the crowd where anxious and when the fourth official signalled 5 minutes of added on time there was a sense that Portugal could possibly get something out of the match. With less than 10 seconds left the ball was at the feet of talisman Cristiano Ronaldo on the far right hand sideline where he unleashed a fabulous cross that was equalled by a perfect flying header from Silvestre Varela who fired it past Tim Howard.
The kick off was elementary as the Argentine referee called full time as the Americans kick off, with the scores level at 2 apiece.
While the USA where flat after the match, Klinsmann will know that they are still one of the two favourites to make it out of the group. A draw or better against Germany, the nation he once played and coached will see them through and even a narrow lose should see them qualify for the Round of 16. The major concern for the USA will be the nerves, Germany is a big team and they will want a convincing victory over the USA to ensure that they are still a force to be reckoned with after a less than perfect display in their draw against Ghana.
I have to give the American’s credit, in two games they have been up against the wall against what most would consider better opposition but they have still managed to get a result out of both games. Whether they can do it again against the mighty Germans is another question but I must take my hat off to a team that I truly believed would not get a point from this group.
For Portugal, they will be relieved that their World Cup will go on for at least another match but their chances are slight. They need Germany to beat the USA and for them to beat Ghana with a significant 5 goal swing. Or for the mathematical situation that will see them through if for the USA to beat Germany and for them to beat Ghana with a close to impossible 8 goal swing.
Realistically Portugal has no hope. In attack the team looks unbalanced with Ronaldo’s role in the attack being overstretched. The defence for Portugal is also a concern, Pepe will be back but with the injury to Andre Almeida and the injury sustained by Fabio Coentrao in the first match they will be without a recognised left back with Miguel Veloso less than convincing in the role. The number of injuries is also a concern with Coentrao being kept company by Hugo Almeida, Rui Patricio and now Helder Postiga and Andre Almeida.
The biggest concern for Portugal however is Ghana, they are not easy beats and a win over Portugal could see them through to the Round of 16 if they can knock a few past the less than average Portugal defence. Bento will need to pull his troops together if they are going to overcome the odds and progress through to the Round of 16 in four day’s time.
I have to finish with the huge talking point coming out of the match. Is Cristiano Ronaldo good or bad for Portugal? After his cross found the head of Varela for the equaliser, Ronaldo seemed less than impressed and did not celebrate with his teammates as he marched back to the halfway mark. This could be seen as arrogance but it also could be seen as him being realistic and frustrated the he and his side had not performed up to their ability.
The side does rely on Ronaldo, no question about it and that is what makes the attack lose any sense of shape because even though he is deployed on the left his on one who wishes to roam the front third of the pitch. The issue that Portugal has is that they are not as good as Real Madrid who is able to compensate for that with 10 other outstanding players. The most frustrating thing for a Portugal fan is that he always seems to be upset with something be it his teammates, the opposition or the referee and he wants it to be about him, the world wants to love Ronaldo almost as much as he loves himself but his attitude just makes it impossible for most.
Some have called for Ronaldo to be dropped for the last match, something that should not and will not happen. For all his pitfalls, he is the world’s best football player and if he is able to be on the pitch for club or country he should be playing. If Portugal is going to score 3 or 4 plus goals Ronaldo will be a part of at least 1 or 2 of them because he creates moments. These moments are what changes games and makes him one of the greatest players ever.
If you ask me, a Portugal fan, I think that there could still be life in this group yet. Realistically the top two of Germany and the USA should go through but if Portugal can show up and put in their best showing since their win over the Swedish in the World Cup playoff then you just don’t know.
I encourage you to stay up this Friday morning as Germany vs. USA and Portugal vs. Ghana both kick off at 2 am and both will be broadcast live on SBS. It is sure to be an enthralling morning of World Cup action.
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