It’s do or die for Portugal and Bosnia-Herzegovina tonight in Lisbon.
A win for Portugal and they will make it to a 7th straight tournament. A draw with goals or a Bosnia win and Cristiano Ronaldo will be forced to watch Euro 2012 on TV rather than take part in it.
The Portugal captain certainly has no intention of letting that happen. “We are favorites because we’ll be playing at home and we are the better team, but we have to show that on the pitch,” said the Real Madrid superstar.
If Portugal coach Paulo Bento had been offered a goalless draw before the first leg of the tie in Bosnia, he would have undoubtedly accepted the result.
Yet the ease with which the Selecção bossed their hosts for most of the game left the Portugal squad with a sense of frustration that they did not turn their domination into a tangible advantage. “The result is extremely unfair given the way we performed,” said Bento after the final whistle had blown in Zenica.
Bosnia will certainly feel they are still in with an excellent chance of making it to their first ever tournament.
The Balkan nation are unbeaten in their last seven matches and were unlucky not to top their qualifying group ahead of France. A late penalty in Paris denied Bosnia victory and automatic qualification for next summer’s tournament in Ukraine and Poland.
Despite their optimism, Portugal’s players are well aware that they cannot afford to be complacent. “The tie remains 50/50. We can only promise hard work to try and qualify,” said striker Hélder Postiga.
After the drab 0-0 draw on a pitch Ronaldo described as a vegetable patch on Friday, the quality of football may well be less than of the highest standard again tonight, this time owing to nerves given what is at stake.
On the other hand, with players of the quality of Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Dzeko and Pjanic, an early goal for either side could lead to a classic. May the action begin.
Kick-off in the Estádio da Luz at 9.00pm local time.
The Portugal captain certainly has no intention of letting that happen. “We are favorites because we’ll be playing at home and we are the better team, but we have to show that on the pitch,” said the Real Madrid superstar.
If Portugal coach Paulo Bento had been offered a goalless draw before the first leg of the tie in Bosnia, he would have undoubtedly accepted the result.
Yet the ease with which the Selecção bossed their hosts for most of the game left the Portugal squad with a sense of frustration that they did not turn their domination into a tangible advantage. “The result is extremely unfair given the way we performed,” said Bento after the final whistle had blown in Zenica.
Bosnia will certainly feel they are still in with an excellent chance of making it to their first ever tournament.
The Balkan nation are unbeaten in their last seven matches and were unlucky not to top their qualifying group ahead of France. A late penalty in Paris denied Bosnia victory and automatic qualification for next summer’s tournament in Ukraine and Poland.
Despite their optimism, Portugal’s players are well aware that they cannot afford to be complacent. “The tie remains 50/50. We can only promise hard work to try and qualify,” said striker Hélder Postiga.
After the drab 0-0 draw on a pitch Ronaldo described as a vegetable patch on Friday, the quality of football may well be less than of the highest standard again tonight, this time owing to nerves given what is at stake.
On the other hand, with players of the quality of Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Dzeko and Pjanic, an early goal for either side could lead to a classic. May the action begin.
Kick-off in the Estádio da Luz at 9.00pm local time.
