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Preview: Euro 2008 Group A, Portugal vs. Turkey

June 7th, 2008 | By: Laurie | 16 Comments »

Portugal

Turkey

Saturday, June 7th 2008, 2045 Kickoff CET
Geneva (Switzerland) – Travel to Geneva

THE BIG PICTURE

It’s only the second game of the tournament, so your butt can’t possibly be tired yet. Kick back and enjoy as Group A favorites Portugal take on possible dark horses Turkey.

PORTUGAL

Three Key Players:

Cristiano Ronaldo. Do I even need to say this? One of the favorites for the Golden Boot, and widely expected to be THE key player if Portugal is going to advance.
Ricardo Carvalho will anchor a solid Portuguese defense.
Petit. Our Portugal blogger Greg picks Petit as key to this match. As holding midfielder, his work in shutting down counterattacks and allowing the fullbacks to go forward will be vital.

Portugal squads
Portugal Team Profile

Team News: Cristiano Ronaldo gave everybody a bit of a scare this week when he appeared with an ice pack on his ankle. But he seems to be fit and ready for the game.

Triviatastic: Deco’s ex is gorgeous.

Visit Greg at the Portugal Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

TURKEY

Three Key Players:

Volkan Demirel has taken over in goal from Turkish icon (and former Demirel mentor) Rüştü Reçber, who will probably view the tournament from the bench, (but with a good attitude.)
Nihat Kahveci is small but mighty — very capable of putting the ball in the net, even against a strong defense like Portugal’s.
Hamit Altintop can provide some attacking skills from the midfield, as long as he’s fit.

Turkey squad
Turkey Team Profile

Team News:It looks as if both Altintorp and Emre will be ready to play, but Servet is still a question mark.

Triviatastic: Turkey has not beaten Portugal in fifty-three years. They will be looking to make up for this today.

Visit Musab at the Turkey Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

BIG BATTLES

The entire Turkish team vs Cristiano Ronaldo Ronaldo is arguably in the best form of his life. It’s going to take a concerted team effort to shut him down. Yet at the same time, Turkey will have to be careful not to devote so much effort to Ronaldo that the other players are free to waltz on through.

Hamit Altintop vs his body. He suffered a broken metatarsal a couple of months back, then came back only to reportedly suffer a muscle injury. He says he’s fit and ready for the match. Is it true?

Portugal offense vs Turkey defense Portugal’s strength does not lie in its strikers. Will the midfield be able to step up and help them get the job done, or will Turkey be able to shut them down?

LIVEBLOG

Click here for the Portugal vs Turkey LiveBlog.

Tags: Basel, Euro 2008, Euro 2008 Game Previews, Euro 2008 News, Group A, June 7, Portugal, Portugal vs Turkey, Portugal-Turkey, Turkey

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Comments

By Pedro | June 7th, 2008 at 5:34 am

No matter if they don´t beat us in 50 years. It´s never easy to play the turks and they also play good ball. No wossy-wossy defense and counter, Italy and Greece style… I expect a good match with goals, but I also hope PT scores one more… Força PT!

Posted from Netherlands

By João | June 7th, 2008 at 5:40 am

Pedro is correct, and lets not forget that C.Ronaldo at the moment has the entire R.Madrid media circus surrounding him that will have a negative psychological influence on him.

Posted from Netherlands

By musab | June 7th, 2008 at 6:50 am

If our players can play with that legendary Turkish “hirs”, then we just might have a chance against them.

Posted from United States

By turkey | June 7th, 2008 at 7:31 am

turkey vinning nihat kahveci goal

Posted from Turkey

By turkey | June 7th, 2008 at 7:33 am

portugal to lose turkey to vin

Posted from Turkey

By turkey | June 7th, 2008 at 7:34 am

turkey 2-0 win

Posted from Turkey

By mele419 | June 7th, 2008 at 7:35 am

pft, Italy and Greece style?
I’m pretty sure Greece won the last Euro, and I’m pretty sure Italy are the wold champions, four times over. So look at that, I think our styles work pretty well.
So just for that, GO TURKEY!

Posted from United States

By Pedro | June 7th, 2008 at 7:37 am

Quim (GK #2) is out of the PT side due to a broken wrist in practice. Nuno (FC Porto) is comming tomorrow to SWI to take his place…
Only a couple of hours to go…
Força PT!

Posted from Netherlands

By Pedro | June 7th, 2008 at 7:44 am

@mele419: of course your styles work pretty well. I´d say they work to perfection… But it´s still a cowardish and wossy-wossy style, that only thinks of results and helps transforming football in a good insomnia medicine. And also levels teams that play poor football with teams that are actually good on the ball. But whether it works? Of course it does…
PT never won shit (except the U20 world cups in 89 and 91), but we can at least say we can play ball… Maybe it doesn´t matter to you, or maybe everybody thinks this is bullshit. But hey, for some reason everybody loves Brasil or Argentina and for some reason there are massive campaigns like “joga bonito” (play pretty) and not “joga para o resultado” (play for the result).
Now we must focus on Turkey and nothing else.
Força PT!

Posted from Netherlands

By Mona | June 7th, 2008 at 7:59 am

Come on Turkey! I want to laugh at Portugal or maybe just Cristiano Ronaldo.

Posted from United States

By João | June 7th, 2008 at 8:26 am

Eh, in football of today playing beautifully doesn’t get you results but leaves you with sore losers. (see Arsenal) I also thought Portugal haven’t played beautifully since the 2004 semi-final against the Netherlands.

Posted from Netherlands