[球員] Pauleta: Eusebio will always be unique
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/051102/1/55b2.html
Pauleta: Eusebio will always be unique
The term 'goal machine' seems particularly apt for Pauleta, the Paris Saint-
Germain and Portugal striker. Already forging ahead in this season's French
league scorers' chart – he has seven in 12 matches – the 32-year-old
recently surpassed the legendary Eusebio's record of 41 strikes for his
country. FIFAworldcup.com caught up with the 'Eagle of the Azores' and heard
his typically modest views on his goalscoring achievements, and Portugal and
their FIFA World Cup prospects.
FIFAworldcup.com: Portugal will be in Germany next summer for the 2006 FIFA
World Cup. Now the dust has settled, what are your thoughts on your
performances in qualifying?
Pauleta: We had a very good campaign. The team showed some excellent qualities
and we remained unbeaten throughout, winning most of our matches and scoring
more goals than any other European country. We truly deserved to qualify.
Now, we need to ensure that we prepare ourselves correctly, as this World Cup
will be an altogether different type of challenge.
With seven teams in the group, it has been a particularly long qualifying
campaign for Portugal. What are your best and worst memories from the road to
Germany?
The high point was undoubtedly our home game against Russia, when we won 7-1.
Such a scoreline always indicates a special performance. As for the worst
moment, that was definitely the game in Liechtenstein, when we were leading
2-0 before they fought back and forced us to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Liechtenstein gave you a few problems in the return match too, in your
penultimate qualifier. What goes through your mind when you struggle against
a supposedly inferior side?
In football, it is often said that there are no easy games any more. The
'minnows' are increasingly difficult to play against. In the case of the
match in Aveiro, we controlled the game and should definitely have put it to
bed earlier. But the important thing is, we won it (2-1 thanks to a late Nuno
Gomes goal) and secured our qualification.
Did your defeat on home soil in the final of UEFA EURO 2004 give you added
motivation in Germany 2006 qualifying?
Yes, for sure, there's no point in denying it. We had a good European
Championship before losing to a workmanlike Greek side. That defeat still
leaves a bitter taste but that's football. I just hope we can do as well next
year in terms of the way we play.
When you scored twice in your last game against Latvia, you broke Eusebio's
record for the most goals scored for the national team. How did you feel at
that moment?
I'd waited a long time for that day. Beating the record was a very important
milestone for me and I've worked very hard to achieve it. But make no mistake
: Eusebio will always be unique and I can't be compared to him in any way. He
will remain the greatest Portuguese player of all time.
(昨天ESPN的足球狂熱(?)剛好有5-3北韓那場的幾個進球片段)
You are too young to have seen him play but you've no doubt watched plenty of
footage of him. What stands out in your mind about Eusebio as a player?
Our styles are totally different. He was what's called a complete player, with
tremendous pace, power and shooting ability. I would love to see him play
today. As I've said, I'm really happy to have beaten this record but, like all
Portuguese people, I am still a huge admirer of Eusebio.
Did he call to congratulate you?
Just after the game against Latvia, I got a call from him. We've known each
other for a while now and have become quite good friends. You couldn't meet a
nicer man.
You've been playing in France for five years now and always scored at least
20 goals a season. Where do you get this knack of finding the back of the net
so consistently?
Well, I'm a striker and it's my job. I work hard on it in training and I feel
comfortable here in France. I am feeling confident this season and I hope to
33mmaintain my good strike rate.
How would you describe the feeling you get from scoring a goal?
For me, football is all about scoring and winning. Consequently, it doesn't
matter how a goal is scored as it's always a real thrill. The most important
thing is that it helps my team to win.
You finished as top scorer in European qualifying with eleven goals.
Worldwide, only the Mexican Jared Borgetti did better with 14 goals and that
was in a region where qualifying goes on for longer. Who do you see as the
best striker in the world?
Definitely Ronaldo, and by some distance too. (Andriy) Shevchenko and (Ruud)
Van Nistelrooy are his closest rivals.
In the national team, you play alongside a so-called football 'phenomenon',
Cristiano Ronaldo. How would you assess your young team-mate?
He has his own individual style and is not an out-and-out goalscorer,
preferring to play wide on the right and use his great pace. He has all the
qualities needed to one day become the best player in the world, and I hope he
does it too. Technically, he's already not that far away from being the best.
He's a young lad who still looks up to the senior players, but before long,
the roles could well be reversed.
Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, which other young Portuguese players should we
watch out for?
Personally, I've been most impressed by a pair of midfielders, Manuel
Fernandes of Benfica and Joao Moutinho of Sporting. They've got everything and
I'm sure they'll be playing for one of the top European clubs within a year
or two.
As a striker, you're in a good position to judge goalkeepers. Who do you think
is the best in the world?
In my opinion, the hardest thing is finding the right angle and the space to
shoot. If you do this and then catch the ball right, it doesn't matter who's
in goal. If the shot's well placed, no keeper on earth can stop it. That's why
I don't fear any goalkeeper in particular.
There's currently a debate raging in France about who is better: Fabien
Barthez or Gregory Coupet. What do you think?
France are lucky to have five top-class goalkeepers in Barthez, Coupet,
Mickael Landreau, Ulrich Rame and Lionel Letizi. Choosing between them is a
difficult task and one I will leave to the national team coach.
Back to the Portugal side, what do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses?
Portugal are a complete team. If we do have an achilles' heel, it is on the
physical side, but thanks to the excellent technique of most of my team-mates,
our strong point is being able to retain possession. Our assets are no secret
in any case, as all our players are with Europe's leading clubs. If we can
keep our concentration and get the rub of the green, I know we're capable of
achieving great things in Germany next year.
What will your target be next summer?
To at least reach the quarter-finals. We are determined to prove that we're
one of the eight best teams in the world. However, before we start thinking
about all that, we need to concentrate on the first match, as it's the key to
whether we have a good or bad tournament.
And on a personal level, what are you hoping for from your second FIFA World
Cup?
It's quite simple: to do my utmost to help my country achieve its aims. I'm
ofcourse hoping to score plenty of goals and give Portugal a chance of going
even further than the quarter-finals.
Finally, you'll be 33 after the FIFA World Cup. Have you made any plans for
the future yet?
I already have something in mind but, for the moment, I want to concentrate
on this season with Paris Saint-Germain, then on the national team. I'll
discuss my future once the World Cup is over.
嗯，請Pauleta明年要好好加油進球啦。
另外今天晚上會公布接下來兩場友誼賽（對克羅埃西亞、北愛爾蘭）的大名單～
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