The Portuguese National Team will play their third and final game of the group stage today against Switzerland. Switzerland, who have already been eliminated from the tournament, will surely try to go out on a positive note and give their best performance. Portugal, on the other hand, have already qualified and will need to stay focused. Speculation has Portugal playing their B-Team in order to rest their best players.
Portugal’s star winger, Cristiano Ronaldo, will most certainly not make the starting line-up as new Chelsea manager Scolari looks to give game time to players who have yet to play.
Portugal’s next opponent has yet to be decided, but it hasn’t stopped the off pitch politics and mind games from commencing. Earlier this week, Croatia went public in saying that they were happy to avoid Portugal in the quarter-final round. Just two days later, when the possibility of Croatia playing Portugal grew, they again went public in saying that they would feel sorry for Cristiano Ronaldo, because it would most certainly mean an early exit for Portugal.
Quarter-final opponents, in most part have yet to be decided. What we do know is that only a few teams are fancied to be standing on the field for the final game. Portugal is one of those teams.
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that he is staying at Manchester United.
After their victorious Champions League game versus Chelsea, Ronaldo was asked by a TV reporter if he was leaving The Red Devils, where as he replied…“No, no, no. I’m going to stay,”
It was a very emotional night for Cristiano Ronaldo. He was the first to score with his brilliant header at the 26 minute mark, but failed to score his penalty kick.
“When I missed the penalty, I thought we were going to lose,” he said.
“I played well in the game and I scored a goal, but I missed the penalty. I thought it was going to be the worst day of my life.
“But the lads did their jobs. They believed they were going to score, and they scored. Penalties is a lottery, you never know who is going to win, but I think we deserve to win because we played better in the game.
“It means everything to me because we won both trophies, the Champions League and the League, so I feel very happy. It is one of the most happy days of my life. I feel very, very proud.”
The game began with both sides playing it very cautious. Most of the first fifteen minutes was played at midfield.
At the fifteen minute mark of the game, Cristiano Ronaldo makes a cross into the Chelsea box, after brilliant footwork by the young superstar gets him past Chelsea defenders.
Both teams get into a shoving match at the 20 minute mark of the game, after a clash of heads leaves Paul Scholes bleeding from the bridge of his nose.
26 minutes in, Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 42nd goal of the season by placing a brilliant header into the corner of the Chelsea goal. The Manchester United supporters erupt into their familiar ‘Viva Ronaldo’ chant.
30 minutes in, Didier Drogba appears to be injured and is forced onto the sidelines. He would make a speedy return onto the pitch.
33 minute mark, Michael Ballack has the first real scoring opportunity for the Chelsea side, but his header is pushed away by United goalkeeper, Van Der Sar. One minute later the Red Devils have a great chance at going ahead by two goals after Ronaldo runs down a long pass and crosses it in front of the Chelsea goal. Tevez’ shot is saved by Cech, who pushes the ball forward and into the feet of another United player. The hard shot by United is brilliantly saved by the Chelsea goaltender.
42′ Carlos Tevez is again presented with an opportunity to put United in front by two, but he fails to connect with the pass. One minute later, Ferdinand fouls Lampard just outside the United box, and receives a yellow card. Michael Ballack’s free kick goes over the crossbar.
45′ Frank Lampard equalizes after a couple of lucky deflections off United defenders falls in front of his feet.
The Half ends 1-1
53′ United have the first opportunity of the half to strike, but Hargreaves’ shot goes over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Chelsea has their first chance of the half, but Vidic heads the shot out.
70′ Michael Carrick is set up perfectly in front of the Chelsea net, but his shot is deflected out by Chelsea defenders.
77′Didier Drogba hits the post with a hard shot, and two minutes later, Chelsea come close to striking again.
81′ Tevez strikes a hard shot just wide of the net.
The game goes into extra time:
The Red Devils have first chance to strike in extra time, but Cech reaches the ball before the sprinting United player.
3:30′ into extra time, Frank Lampard hits the crossbar.
10′ minute mark, John Terry prevents another United goal by heading out a cross from Patrice Evra, after Evra had made a brilliant run into the Chelsea box.
11′ Nani comes in for Rooney.
24′ minutes into extra time, another shoving match erupts on the field between the two teams. Tevez receives a yellow card, and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, receives a straight red for slapping a United player in front of the referee.
Extra time ends in a draw, and the game goes into penalty kicks.
