Denmark vs Portugal Live Streams and TV Channels

RTP Internacional

Setanta Sports Canada

Setanta Sports USA

ESPN

ESPN UK

Denmark vs Portugal Match Preview

Both sides have different reasons to fight for nothing else but a victory. While a win for the Danish would almost put them through to the finals of the World Cup in South Africa, defeat for Portugal will blow the horns of the alert louder than ever.

A Seleccao have no room for mistakes. They need to win to keep the fire burning…

Heat between Portugal’s skipper Cristiano Ronaldo and the team’s leading members

Problems with the Portuguese national team do not only find their roots on the grass of the field of play. Heat has started arising between Real Madrid’s € 94 million summer capture, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the country’s football federation.

Throughout this year, the former European player of the year has constantly been criticized by some of his fellow compatriots who simply believe that Cristiano Ronaldo rates club football above the pride of playing for the Portuguese national team.

Earlier in May, Cristiano Ronaldo was slammed by one of FC Porto’s board members after scoring a wonder goal for Manchester United which eliminated the Dragons in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. There have been a lot of concerns from important men in the Portuguese FA towards Cristiano Ronaldo’s commitment into the national team.

Things grew even worse earlier in August when Real Madrid refused to let the current World Player of the Year attend Portugal’s important friendly match against Liechtenstein. The Spanish giants reported that Cristiano Ronaldo had sustained flu and that he was therefore unable to play for Portugal. Real Madrid’s excuse was strongly rejected by Portugal’s coach Carlos Queiroz and by the Portuguese FA’s director, Gilberto Madail. Meanwhile, Ronaldo attended Real Madrid’s early training session on the following day.

Ronaldo recently revealed his disappointment at Portugal’s lack of confidence in him. Despite his declarations, a bad stink still persist between him and Portugal’s board members.

Saturday, September 5th should be the perfect moment for Cristiano Ronaldo to do away with all the negative thoughts and opinions that surround him. At the same time, we’ve heard at many occasions Ronaldo stipulating that he was never out on the field to prove anything to anyone. Therefore, what effect will those critics have on his game against Denmark?

On one hand, the critics may work as a psychological boost to skipper Cristiano Ronaldo who hasn’t found the net for Portugal in the world cup qualifiers.
Cristiano Ronaldo, whose UEFA Player of the Year title was taken by Lionel Messi earlier on Thursday, may use Portugal’s game away to Denmark as an opportunity to get back into the limelight as his country’s savior.

On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo may be distracted by Real Madrid’s worry at letting their € 94 million risk his legs during 90 minutes of football for Portugal. He may opt to play a normal game as he is still working on discovering his best shape.

As a result of all these uncertainties, Carlos Queiroz may chose to put up a different formation against Denmark so as to simplify Portugal’s chances of winning even if their playmaker, Cristiano Ronaldo, fails to deliver what is expected of him.

Portugal Analysis: Only aiming for correction

Whereas the former Manchester United assistant coach is still searching for a dependable striking duo upfront for Portugal, concerns also surround the team’s reliability at the back.

Despite recording a good number of clean sheets since the end of the 2008 European championship, the Portuguese have also shown weakness in defense when it matters the most. Not to mention their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Albania in June, Portugal struggled to maintain their 2-1 advantage against Denmark in the dying minutes of the match. At the end of proceedings, Portugal had lost 3 precious points to the Danish who currently top Group A.

September 5 will not only be a matter of revenge when Portugal clash against Denmark away from home. Instead, it will be a do or die affair and a matter of correcting their mistakes.

The race for the finals of the World Cup in South Africa is still on for the Portuguese. However, there is no time for relaxation. Seven points currently separate Portugal from Denmark in the table.

Knowing that only the 8 best runners-up qualify for the play-offs – which could include the likes of excellent sides such as Russia or even France – Portugal will prefer to struggle today and linch the top spot in their group.

It is perhaps too early to dream about qualifying for South Africa 2010 as Group A’s leaders. For now, Portugal will focus on going step by step, and match by match.
 

Denmark vs Portugal Videos