Portugal - Czech republic ( Portugalia - cehia)

Winner Takes It All

Or qualification, at least.Both sides won on the opening day - the Czechs fortuitously and the Portuguese most convincingly - and should there be a winner tomorrow in Geneva, they will have secured qualification to the quarterfinals.As such, Portugal will most definitely be looking to go all out and secure qualification so that in their final game against co-hosts Switzerland they may focus simply on finishing top of the group and perhaps affording one or two key men a rest.

The Czechs, though, would probably be satisfied with a draw, and that mentality may prove their undoing.Missing both Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky has robbed the Czechs of much of their creativity on which the domineering Jan Koller used to capitalise. With Tomas Galasek also getting on in years, the midfield in general is lacking in all areas it was once fairly formidable.It will be up to coach Karel Brückner, then, to tactically discipline his players to work as a unit that will remain strong in defence as well as suitably quick and creative to enable attacking play.

Czech Republic

No injuries reported from the Czech camp. Coach Brückner has suggested he was happy with the defence but will make a change in the forward line. Replacing the legendary Jan Koller in his final tournament would seem too drastic a move, despite the country's all-time leading goal scorer having a poor first game. Marek Matejovsky is thought to be coming in to replace Jarolim in midfield, with neither the wily Plasil or the in-form Sionko likely to be replaced. Milan Baros' inclusion as a second forward is a move probably too bold against opposition as dangerous as Portugal, but he is likely to be used from the bench.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Cech - Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski - Sionko, Matejovsky, Galasek, Kovac, Plasil - Koller

Portugal

Again, no injuries reported from the Portugese camp and Luiz Felipe Scolari is likely to go with the same side that dominated against Turkey. However, wingers Simao and Nani picked up minor knocks and therefore could make way for Ricardo Quaresma, who did not make an appearance on Saturday.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Ricardo - Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira - Moutinho, Petit, Deco - Quaresma, Nuno Gomes, Ronaldo

Portugal win

posted by Midnight Sun @ 00:03,

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