DURBAN, South Africa: Even without one of world football’s biggest stars, Portugal’s World Cup clash with Brazil promises a feast of skillful, attacking football as both teams seek to win and avoid a possible round of 16 clash with Spain.
"Portugal and Brazil have what it takes to put on a great football show for the world," Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz said.
Not surprisingly, given the pedigree of both teams and their close cultural and historical ties, the match between Brazil and Portugal was one of the first World Cup matches to sell out.
The luster was taken off slightly when midfielder Kaka was sent off in the 88th minute of Brazil’s 3-1 defeat of Ivory Coast, meaning he will miss a
showdown with Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in Durban.
Portugal midfielder Tiago said Brazil would not have a problem filling Kaka’s boots.
"Brazil has a very strong squad," he said. "They have other players who can step into that position."
Portugal, meanwhile, has Ronaldo back in scoring touch, after he broke a two-year international goal drought in his team’s emphatic 7-0 demolition of North Korea.
"Without a doubt he is a great player, he has been showing this for a long time," Brazil captain Lucio said. "We need to try to defend as a team, it’s key we help each other and stay focused. We will have to pay attention to a player like Ronaldo and also to the others."
Brazil’s defeats of North Korea and Ivory Coast guaranteed it a place in the round of 16.
It now wants to continue its winning ways to top Group G and avoid a possible match against fellow World Cup favorite Spain in the next round.
Portugal is second in the group on four points after starting the tournament with a lackluster 0-0 draw against Ivory Coast before hitting form against North Korea.
That means a draw is enough for a place in the next round, while a victory will see Queiroz’s team win the group.
Portugal’s quick passing and silky ball skills have earned the team the reputation of "Brazilians of Europe." Its squad also includes three Brazilian-born players — defender Pepe, midfielder Deco and striker Liedson, though they all could start on the bench.
Deco is struggling to recover from a right hip injury before Friday’s match in Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium and may miss out even if he is fit after his replacement Tiago gave a standout performance against North Korea.
"I don’t know if he’ll be fit in time. I hope he’ll be able to play," Tiago said.
"He’s an important player and we’ll miss him" if he doesn’t make it.
Brazil has won 12 of the 18 games between the two countries but they have met just once at a World Cup, in 1966 when a Portugal team led by Eusebio beat Brazil and the South Americans were knocked out in the group phase.
However, the last time the two met, Brazil beat Portugal 6-2 in Sao Paulo.
Brazil has won the World Cup five times, while Portugal’s third place in 1966 is its best finish. Portugal also was a semifinalist four years ago in Germany, losing 1-0 to France.
Ivory Coast needs one of the unlikeliest results in World Cup history if it is to prolong its stay at the 2010 tournament.
The Ivorians retain just the slimmest of mathematical chances of qualifying for the last 16 stage.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team has to beat already-eliminated North Korea in Nelspruit in the final round of Group G matches on Friday — but that’s the easy part.
At the same time Portugal has to lose to Brazil in Durban — not impossible.
And there also has to be a nine-goal swing in Ivory Coast’s favor — almost inconceivable.
"There’s one match to go and we owe it to ourselves to win it and hope events go in our favor," said defender Guy Demel, insisting The Elephants still retained hope of an incredible outcome. "Nothing’s over yet."
World Cup history is not in Ivory Coast’s favor.
A one-goal loss by Portugal to five-time champion Brazil would require the Ivorians to win by at least eight and in the 80-year history of the World Cup there have been just six matches with an 8-0 score line or greater.
North Korea has been stung by its 7-0 defeat by Portugal, and is eager to make up for that poor display against Ivory Coast.
Midfielder An Yong Hak said the Ivory Coast game is a chance to regain lost pride in its first World Cup appearance in 44 years.
"We made a lot of mistakes that forced us to eat too many goals," he said of the pounding by Portugal, "but we’ll try our hardest to the end and do our best in the final game."
