[國家] 比賽前瞻 Portugal - Estonia
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/050606/7/3t1m.html
Portugal can consolidate their top spot in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 3 on
Wednesday by adding a win over Estonia to last weekend's all-important success
over Slovakia.
The 2-0 weekend victory over their nearest rivals took the UEFA EURO 2004
runners-up to 17 points - three clear of Slovakia and Russia, who beat Latvia
2-0.
Estonia, who have played a game more than the top three, are in fourth place on
11 points after their 2-0 win over Liechtenstein on Saturday.
"If we win in Estonia, then we'll go on to become favourites," said Portugal
coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose team beat Estonia 4-0 at home in September. "
We are only three points clear of our opponents."
Saturday's win was inspired by dazzling play from Manchester United's Cristiano
Ronaldo, who scored the second goal with a free-kick, and by the return of Real
Madrid's Luis Figo to international action.
"This is important because if we win we're almost in," said Ronaldo. "I don't
know what the others think, but I think if we win we are 70 per cent qualified.
Figo returned after an 11-month absence and Scolari said his presence was
important. "Figo has leadership and charisma beyond being great for the group,"
Scolari said.
Costinha will return to the squad after a one-game suspension but fellow
midfielder Simao Sabrosa has been ruled out with a thigh injury.
Simao joins five players withdrawn from the original 26-man squad because of
physical problems - Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Miguel Monteiro, Luis Boa
Morte and Nuno Gomes.
The Estonia players are upbeat about giving Portugal a tough game and keeping a
live their faint dream of booking a berth in the play-offs.
However, they will be missing some key players, including Sunderland goalkeeper
Mart Poom.
Probable teams:
Estonia:
Artur Kotenko; Teet Allas, Andrei Stepanov, Enar Jaager, Dmitri Kruglov, Martin
Reim, Sergei Terehhov (or Maksim Smirnov), Joel Lindpere, Ragnar Klavan, Andres
Oper , Kristen Viikmae (or Ingemar Teever)
Portugal:
Ricardo; Marco Caneira, Jorge Andrade, Fernando Meira, Alex; Deco, Maniche,
Petit; Luis Figo, Pauleta, Cristiano Ronaldo
Referee: Mike Riley (England).
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