Euro 2012 Qualifier: Norway vs. Portugal - Portugal look to get back on track
The immediate future is looking bleak for the Portugal national team after they managed to draw their opening Euro 2012 qualifier. A four-all draw at home to a rather weak Cyprus was only the latest blow that the team suffered in a period of misfortune and bad luck for the team that has seen winger and the highly influential Simao announce his international retirement, Cristiano Ronaldo suffer an ankle injury while playing for his club team Real Madrid, and of course, the team’s manager Carlos Queiroz suspended for six months as a result of his interference in an anti-doping test ahead of the World Cup, which made everyone wonder if things could get any worse for the Portuguese national side.
"I admit there was a lack of competence in a defence that is usually competent," Portugal's temporary coach Agostinho Oliveira, who had worked as assistant to Queiroz, said after the Cyprus match. "It's not easy explaining this. This defence is solid. We had two men in front of the centre backs and this result is hard for me to swallow."
An opening match at home to a team ranked 63 in the world by FIFA should have allowed the Portuguese side to get the loss of so many key figures and vital players out of their system before taking on bigger much difficult tests, but the pressure will now be bigger than ever. Fabio Coentrao is also scheduled to miss the game due to an injury the side-back picked up midweek.
Norway player to watch: Erik Huseklepp
The twenty-five year old forward is an old school player, who likes to get into the thick of things. In his last outing for the team, he was involved in the two goals scored by the team. He scored the first and set the second one up for Brede Hangeland to nod home off a beautifully taken corner by the player.
Portugal player to watch: Nani
Nani would be looking to make his presence felt on the team that left him out of the World Cup. The player will also be looking to finally take over his name as the next Cristiano Ronaldo with the captain being missing for this game. Nani can create moments of brilliance every time he gets the ball, and the team will be relying on him to do the same tonight.
The experts predict that despite Portugal having some problems in the squad, they will be looking to go all out and assert their dominance on the group. As long as Norway don't pull a Cyprus on the team, it looks like three an easy points for them.
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