Portugal vs Northern Ireland preview - Ronaldo reaches 100 caps

Posted Tuesday, October 16, 2012 by portugoal.net

The build-up to the vast majority of Portugal games inevitably focuses heavily on one man - Cristiano Ronaldo. As Northern Ireland roll into Porto for the World Cup qualifier, the Selecção captain is hogging even more of the headlines than usual as he dons the shirt of the senior Portugal side for the 100th time.

Portugal coach Paulo Bento began his pre-match press conference by downplaying the occasion. “It’s just a number. I don’t expect anything special from Ronaldo because it’s his 100th cap. I expect him to be involved in our game plan and to express his qualities within the dynamics of the team.”

However, the former team-mate of the Madeiran could not avoid stating a few simple facts that exemplify what a remarkable player Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aviero really is.

“Ronaldo is the third player to reach 100 appearances for Portugal, and is the third youngest player to reach this landmark in the whole of Europe, which shows it’s an achievement only within reach of very few players,” pointed out Bento. “I hope he plays many more times for Portugal and I believe by the end of his career he will have broken the appearances record (127 - Luís Figo), and, without this being an obsession, the goalscoring record (47 - Pauleta; Ronaldo has scored 37 goals).

“I’d like to emphasise the level of professionalism he shows, both in training and in the way he acts and sticks to our rules. As a captain, he leads by example, and this is very important for the squad.”

The Portuguese Football Federation do not usually need much of an excuse to pay public tribute to players who have made a special contribution to the Selecção, and it’s safe to say we can expect a ceremony and some form of award before the match gets underway tomorrow.

Intensity

But for the party not to turn sour, it is vital Portugal pick up three points after the somewhat unfortunate loss against Russia in Moscow on Friday. Bento set forth the blueprint for success: “We want to be intense in our ball possession and create the highest number of goalscoring opportunities possible.”

Not that the coach is expecting an easy ride. Northern Ireland are currently ranked in 117th place by FIFA, but Bento said he sets little store by the rankings. “The rankings mean little to me. We don’t prepare the game in accordance with a team’s place in the table. We look at the collective assets of the opposition and any individual strong points they may have.

“Northern Ireland will use a direct game to their striker, because they know we want to play with a block high up the pitch and to take the initiative. They are a team that plays with a retreated block, with two lines of four well back, one in the position ten and the other one in front. It’s up to us to combat this situation. It’s important we don’t lose patience in our attacking game.”

Given Bento’s well known reluctance to tinker with his team, it is highly likely that the Portugal coach will choose the same line-up as against Russia, save the enforced replacement of the injured Fábio Coentrão with Miguel Lopes.

Likely Portugal starting XI:

Rui Patrício, João Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Miguel Lopes, Miguel Veloso, João Moutinho, Rúben Micael, Nani, Hélder Postiga, Cristiano Ronaldo

Precisely the position of left-back was another topic of conversation in the press conference, with some journalists suggesting that Eliseu may have been a more valid option to be drafted into the squad as replacement for Coentrão, rather than Betis right-back Nélson.

“In the original squad Fábio was earmarked for this position. In terms of adaptation, we opted for right-backs (Miguel Lopes and Nélson) who can adapt to the left. Eliseu would be an adaptation from a winger to a left-back. The squad also allows us to adapt a midfielder (Miguel Veloso) to left-back,” explained Bento.

“I understand that Eliseu’s goals and career at Malaga have led to people calling for his inclusion, but they may well be the same people who were criticising this option after the game against Denmark (Euro 2012 qualifying).”

Full house

For the second home match running, the stadium is expected to be sold out, largely as a result of the successful partnership established with the supermarket chain Continente, which is offering cheap tickets.

Asked about playing in front of a packed Estádio do Dragão the Portugal coach thanked the fans for their support: “Considering the moment the country is going through, this support from the public is extremely gratifying.”