Day 23 - France vs Portugal

[TonyStarks]

Opening this up a bit early (so noone gives an excuse for being late with their predictions) ...

France 2-1 Portugal

I just put down any prediction. I have no idea how this game will pan out. France are so inconsistent and Portugal are arguably a better team than France. I just think France will continue to ride their good form and make it to the final.

[phylay]

France 2 Portugal 0

I want to see a France-Italy in the finals

[Amina-DZ]

This has the potential to be an epic midfield battle. France has impressed so far by beating both Spain and Brazil. They didn't just beat, they dominated both games. What has Portugal accomplished? The red card mess with the Netherland and holding a 10 men England team without Rooney, Owen, and Beckham to a 0-0 draw?

My prediction: France 3-1 Portugal

[phylay]

Both teams have many players having yellow cards: france has 6 and I think protugal has 7. Nobody wants to miss the final so I guess it will be a clean game.
I agree Amina, it will b a battle in the midfield and France must block C. Ronaldo and his alter ego if they want Pauleta to be deprived of scoring opportunities

[Amina-DZ]

and France must block C. Ronaldo and his alter ego if they want Pauleta to be deprived of scoring opportunities

Yes, I think France should focus on cry baby Ronaldo. He's bound to be playing slightly injured, and he is the youngest. He also is known to have a temper, so if France can irritate him, they might get him set off Beyond that, France should assign CR a man marker to take him out of the match. I think France should stand off Deco, play him zonal. Make him slowly build the attack. As for Figo, make him run. In the last match he showed that he is lacking the fitness level needed to perform at this level, he was totally spent.

Portugal should have a player whose only job is to mark Zizou. He is clearly the biggest danger in the French attack. Additionally, Scolari needs to devise some tactic that prevents Viera from getting forward and limit Ribery getting forward. Perhaps doubling him up much like France did with Ronaldinho when he got the ball.

IMO, France should build slow and make Portugal chase the ball. France seem to have higher fitness level, so more possession will more likely payoff. Conversely, I think Portugal could be most effective on the counter attack.

[phylay]

Lol@cry baby I agree he was unfair with England but Rooney is not an example of fairness either.. But u r right, again, C.R. is still young and the experienced french defenders should know how to deal with him... But France plays zonal, never on individual marking and Abidal (who is on CR's side of the field) attacks a lot (together with Malouda) so C.R will have to defend as well....

I think Portugal will set someone to mark Zidane but that won't bother him. Remember he had individual marking from Switzerland, Spain and Brazil... Noone can really follow him

[Amina-DZ]

France have the better midfield with Zidane, Vieira, and Makelele. For Portugal to play down the centre would be disastrous but France are more vulnerable if attacked on the wing. I actually think that Portugal have great wingers in Figo and the cry baby Ronaldo. I think Pauleta has been very disappointing and I guess Scolari will be doing his best, after all, he's the only Brazilian left in this tournament.