
After the full time whistle, the result wasn’t what I or any other Portugal fan had hoped, we wanted to have that first win! This is a tough group, and there is no space for mistakes! I couldn’t help think that both sides were playing it safe, not taking too many chances! While I watched on I saw the same squad that has left me with alot of questions the last couple of months! In the morning I will probably feel differently,but now I have mixed reactions. Me and the Portugal fans…
Here are some of their comments:
” They could have scored at least one goal, was it really so hard? But I guess a draw is better then nothing.”
” Scolari please come back, we don’t deserve a 1st assistant coach, we want a coach worthy of our Seleccao, our team has forgotten how to play with pride.But we will believe till the end”
” We didn’t do badly, people talk as if we are already on our way back home,it was a draw against the African team favourite to win,we did well, Ronaldo was man of the match.”
” Next game will be different, they will win North Korea and then Brazil, not all the best teams in the world have won, many have drawn too!”
Of course there were also many,many fans that do not think our team did that badly at all,and still believe that this World Cup Title is ours! It’s no secret our squad isn’t perfect, but it wasn’t so bad,that people should be so negative already! I told you before,Portuguese people are harsh critics!
One of the highlights for me was at the 11th minute,when Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot, hit the post from 30 yards, damn that would have been a goal that would have been remembered for a long,long time! He wants it so bad,and I know from watching him play all his matches in the last season at Real Madrid,that if he can just score a first,the rest will come pouring in.
Defense wise, both teams were strong, and I think we kind of cancelled each other out in this match – unfortunately! To me the name Fabio Coentrao is a name that the world should get use to, he impresses me more and more with each game!I also have to admit, that Drogba brings that extra boost to Ivory Coast, when he came on, they suddenly played with more determination, BUT still couldn’t get past our defense!
I have to mention the incident between Ronaldo and Demel, the ref gave both players a yellow, other then the foul language he exchanged with Demel, I think it was harsh,and after all that,Ronaldo still didnt get a free kick! Fifa have to do something about these sort of things, they cannot continue to ignore modern technology to help better this beautiful game!

“Why aren’t you fearing me? I’m an Elephant you know!” (via Getty)
Talking about Fifa, reminds me of something I have been meaning to bring up, alot of matches were apparently *sold out* when friends of mine tried to get tickets, so why Fifa, WHY wasn’t the stadium full? I hope that in the next world cup, the ticketing system won’t be the headache it was in South Africa! Futbolita Portugal HATES empty stadiums!!!
The actual line up was, Eduardo, Alves, Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mendes, Liedson, Danny, Raul Meireles, Deco and Fabio Coentrao. Simao came on for Danny at 55′ , Tiago followed at 62′ for Deco. My cousin loves Deco so much,so she will kill me for saying this, but does he still have it?! What about Simao, shouldnt he have started? Ruben Amorim that was called up to take Nani’s place, made his first appearance for the Senior Portugal team, when he came in for the last 5 minutes.
So do we still have a chance? I will believe until the very last whistle blows on us! Queiroz said that although they had wanted the 3 points, that he was happy with a draw,he knew afterall that it wasn’t going to be easy!
I don’t like draws, but I would rather take a draw then loosing! Seeing as it was against one of the top African teams, it wasn’t too bad. I do however want to see Portugal play with more passion, I know it’s in there somewhere!
Until the next match
Signing Off
Your Portuguese Futbolita
Monica
Beijinhos