When the draw was made for the World Cup groups, way back in December, if any fixture stood head and shoulders above the rest it was this one. Two teams with real potential, sublime talent, fabulous flair oozing in class, style and intelligent football. It was a shame then that we saw barely anything of what we expected. This encounter, on paper anyway, promised to be enthralling, energetic and full of exquisite football. It could be described better as dull, dire, disappointing, DRAW.
Portugal started off as the brighter of the two sides, with Brazil playing without the injured Elano and the suspended Kaka. Portugal, currently second in the group, had pretty much rendered the other game between the Ivory Coast and North Korea meaningless thanks to their superior goal difference, and both teams were simply playing for pride. All Portugal really needed was a point to secure their position and Brazil were comfortably through to the next round, so they weren't really in desperate need of a win, unlike Italy yesterday. This is probably what made the game so fraught and niggly, ending up 0-0 at the final whistle. It stood in sharp contrast to the Italy-Slovakia game, with spectators unable to keep their eyes away from one game, but unable to keep their eyes from closing in the other.
Brazil soon began to dominate possession wise, and were able to pass it at will in midfield. However, that was about all they could do as for large parts of the first half they were unable to penetrate the Portuguese defence. When they did, it was largely down the wings, particularly with Maicon who, as the game wore on, was seen further and further down the pitch in the Portuguese third. Nilmar, had undoubtedly the best chance of the first half, but his shot was saved well by keeper, Eduardo who managed to get it on to the frame of the goal. Luis Fabiano, who has scored 2 superbly taken goal already, tried to add a third to his name but Eduardo again, was once more equal to it. Portugal have now kept clean sheets in all but 4 of their last 17 games, and it looked like they were going to keep it at 4, in part thanks to Eduardo's fine saves, but also to some good closing down and tracking back by the Portuguese defenders.
Fabio Coentrao and Raul Meireles have been really impressive so far in the tournament, but they were kept largely quiet by Brazil, as was Ronaldo. Most of the game tended to be played in midfield, before either team broke away, but it was a frustrating affair both for the players and the spectators. There were 7 bookings just in the first half alone preventing any kind of free-flowing football. What we got were a number of poorly taken free kicks, including Ronaldo's free-kicks which were well short of his best. Perhaps he should take a tip or two off Honda or Endo! Pepe and Felipe Melo seemed to be in a battle of their own down on the left hand side, with both constantly fouling the other, and both getting booked in the process.
There was a huge shout for a sending-off when Brazilian defender Juan clearly hand-balled some 40 yards from goal, as Ronaldo was closing down on a long-ball seeking to control it and get it past him. From Juan's reaction, he looked relieved to see just a yellow, but it could have been much worse had the referee deemed it to be denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The Portuguese players were clearly unimpressed, and Duda was booked for his protests.
Ronaldo, playing as the lone front man, improved slightly in the second half, having another great chance to run at the defence, but Lucio got in a sliding block just in the nick of time to prevent Ronaldo from scoring. Ronaldo, again set up the ball for Raul Meireles, who could only shoot wide and didn't do enough to trouble Julio Cezar. It was difficult for Brazil to really create anything, not only because they couldn't find a way past the Portuguese defence which was highly organised, but because they were playing at too slow a tempo, to have any real affect at going forward. Their coach Dunga was absolutely screaming down at the touchline, he was doing his nut in trying to make them play faster and get the ball moving quicker to at least try and trouble the Portuguese.
Brazil went close at the other end with Ramires striking a shot from distance, in injury time, only to see it saved by a diving Eduardo. The game petered out to a no-score draw provoking jeers from the masses of travelling supporters, who had paid good money for what looked a mighty promising encounter. Instead, what we got was a largely fractious affair, with no real tempo to the game whatsoever and no goals for either of the two sides.
Brazil go through as group winners, and Portugal will finish in second place, with either one of these teams possibly facing European champions, Spain. The Brazilians lacked their usual flair, trickery and "samba" football, whilst the Portuguese remained rock solid at the back, thanks in no small part to Eduardo. Portugal remain the only European team in the competition to have not conceded a goal...even the Swiss can't better that...and it makes one wonder how the opposition will be able to get a goal past them...
In the other Group G game, the Ivory Coast exited the competition with a bang, becoming the fifth African team to leave on African soil. They beat North Korea by 3 goals to 0, with Yaya Toure, Romaric and Chelsea's Salomon Kalou getting their names on the scoresheet. From watching the highlights, it looked as though Boka had a superb game. He seemed to be at the centre of everything and looked really impressive for the Elephants, who stomp out of the competition with 4 points to their name. North Korea finish bottom with nil-points.
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