The full make-up of our World Cup Group is now known as Portugal defeated Denmark in extra-time on Sunday to confirm their place in the Nations League semi-finals and has placed them in Group F of the World Cup Qualifiers alongside Armenia, Hungary and ourselves. So how have our Group F opponents been getting on in this International Window? Let’s find out.
Armenia
Let’s start with the really positive stuff. To say that Armenia did not have a good window would be a bit of an understatement. A 9-1 aggregate defeat to Georgia was comprehensive. What will probably really worry the Armenian fans was how completely overpowered they looked based on the highlights. It’s not always good to base your judgement of a team on a highlights package but what was shown on that was that Armenia were overpowered and outmatched by their Georgia opponents.
When we meet them we should probably be prepared for a technically good team but from what was shown they were up against a team who physically knocked them off the ball with ease and particularly in the first half of the second leg yesterday were torn apart by their opponents at will. Right now you would feel reasonably confident in our chances of picking up 6 points against them.
The only mitigating circumstance you might feel is that arguably their most prolific striker at International level at the moment Grant-Leon Ranos was removed from the squad for the second leg after a falling out with boss John Van’t Schip in what were his first two matches managing the team, so it remains to be seen if their relationship can be mended before our trip to Yerevan but either way if we can handle the heat out there we should be in a good place to pick up all 6 points there.
They will play friendlies in Kosovo and Montenegro in June before the qualifiers kick-off in September.
Hungary
Hungary on paper did not have a good International Window but its also hard not to argue that they probably will feel a bit hard done by the final score over two legs as their play probably merited being a bit closer than they were but for a combination of good defensive work and some very strong goalkeeping by Ugurcan Cakir in the Turkish goal. At the same time it also was clear to see exactly where Turkey exploited as all six of the Turkey goals came from space exploited from gaps exposed on the left hand side of the Hungarian defence.
Hungary according to Uefas tactical line-up set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Zsolt Nagy occupying the left midfield role for the first leg and Kerkez of Bounemouth filling in there for the second leg having played apparently as an attacking midfielder alongside Szoboszlai in the first leg. Is it another case of square pegs in round holes? If they line up the same way in September, we will find out. They created plenty of chances and responded well to conceding the opening goal in the first leg so an easy opponent they will not be.
Hungary will entertain Sweden and make a trip to Baku in June as they ramp up their preparations for the qualifiers.
Portugal
So Portugal are our top seeds. Is that good news or bad news for us? After watching the two legs against Denmark – that is hard to say. Let’s look at some of the positives first. Denmark should have won that tie. Between a missed penalty from Erikson and dominating the chances in the first leg – they should have been ahead by more. Combine that with errors from Kasper Schmeichel in the second leg, certainly with the first few goals (not sure what he was doing with his feet for the first goal). To say that Kelleher or Bazunu will need to be on top form against them is obvious but with what we have seen from Kelleher at times this season I think he would have done better for quite a few of their goals (FYI the first goal in extra time was almost like Schillachi from the quarter final in Italia 90 from the other side).
The other bit of good news might be Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes he got a goal and is still a goal poacher supreme but his penalty Sunday night to my mind was probably the worst I’ve ever seen from him. The John Aldridge type stutter run up was there but the power in the shot was not. It was a very poor penalty. Comparing the two penalty misses in the tie – Eriksons was the much better taken penalty and will feel the unluckiest of the two in missing.
What are the worries? Unsurprisingly it’s the bench that would spark the most worries based on what we’ve seen. In rugby the term the “bomb squad” is one that has grown to prominence in the past and the Portuguese bench could well be footballs version of the bomb squad with the future heirs to the Ronaldo starting spot lining up to take their opportunity to establish themselves as the true heir to the throne.
Portugal in June play hosts Germany in the semi-final of the Nations League and either a 3rd place play-off or a final depending on how the Germany game goes in June.
Overall, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic right now, a few to be fearful as well but for the first time in a while there is a genuine optimism surrounding our men’s national team and long may it continue. We will be back in June to see how our opponents got on. Until then enjoy the optimism!