Updated - 10:55AM eastern
Spain look for in-form Xavi to lead them down the road to glory. Portugal will look to Meireles and Tiago to make Xavi go away!
Rumours are that Spain will field the exact starting 11 used in the Spain vs Chile match. The back line consisting of Ramos and Casillas who perform at Real Madrid are joined by central midfield duo Pique and Puyol from Barcelona and the experienced Capdevilla from Villarreal. The midfield will look like a starting midfield lineup from FC Barcelona with Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. Xabi Alonso will play a vital role in recovering posession and ball distribution. And In the front line of attack we have the lethal David Villa and "El Nino" Fernando Torres.
Spain's Confirmed starting 11:
Casillas (Real Madrid)
Sérgio Ramos (Real Madrid), Piqué (FC Barcelona), Puyol (FC Barcelona), Capdevilla (Villarreal)
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi (FC Barcelona), Busquets (FC Barcelona), Iniesta (FC Barcelona)
David Villa (FC Barcelona), Torres (Liverpool)
4-3-3 Formation
FIFA World Ranking - #2
Population: 40.5M
Key to victory: Maintain midfield composure and attacking threat. High percentage in passing game & posession. Penetration of Portuguese defense. Villa, Xavi, Iniesta Link up runs. Creation of space for Villa attacks.
Carlos Queiroz has kept Portugal fresh with squad rotation for every match played thus far. Tomorrow's match will feature Pedro Mendes playing a pivot role in front of the back four, with 2 anchored mid-fielders capable of defensive and offensive duties, key to the Portuguese transition game. The attack will consist of right-left side winger Simao, Opportunist striker Liedson and Cristiano Ronaldo with a free attacking role.
Portugal's Confirmed starting 11: (updated)
Eduardo (Sp. Braga)
Ricardo Costa (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Fábio Coentrão (SL Benfica)
Pepe (R.Madrid)
Tiago (Atl. Madrid), Raul Meireles (FC Porto)
Simão (Atl. Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Almeida (Werder Bremen).
4-1-2-2-1 Formation
FIFA World Ranking - #3
Population:10.5M
Key to victory: Quick Counter Attacks to exploit the Spanish defensive form. Maintain defensive composure and nulify the Spanish advance territory posession. Assert presence on the wings by moving into vital positioning on the wings by Ronaldo, Simao and support by Coentrao. Defense-Offense transition through Meireles/Tiago.
Interesting Factoids:
- Portugal have four of their starting eleven playing playing in Spain.
- None of Spain's players have played in Portugal.
- All of Spain's players play in La Liga with the exception of the Fernando "El Nino" Torres who is rumoured to return to Spain next season.
- Most of the Spain starting eleven are very familiar with Simao and Cristiano Ronaldo, which will give the Spanish defensive line an edge on how to deal with the offensive movements & threats they may pose.
- With the exception of Capdevilla and Torres, all of Spain's starting 11 are FC Barcelona and Real Madrid players.
- Portugal have 1 Brazilian born player in their starting 11 (Liedson).
- Fabio Coentrao is playing only his 7th international for Portugal but seems to have secured the left back position despite being a speedy winger for Benfica.
- Portugal have not lost in 18 games. Scoring 32 goals and conceding only 3 goals.
- Spain have lost twice in their last 18 games (USA, Switzerland) having scored 47 goals and conceding 13.
- Betting Odds Favor Spain almost 2-1 to win this match.
- Portugal are the only team that has yet to conceive a goal in this World Cup. They have 22 clean sheets in the past 26 matches. Their last defeat was in a friendly to Brazil (6-2) in Brasilia.
Head to head record last 25 years:
20-June-04 Spain 0-1 Portugal, Euro 2004
06-Sept-03 Portugal 0-3 Spain, Friendly
13-Feb-02 Spain 1-1 Portugal, Friendly
19-Jan-94 Spain 2-2 Portugal, Friendly
15-Jan-92 Portugal 0-0 Spain, Friendly
16-Jan-91 Spain 1-1 Portugal, Friendly
17-June-84 Portugal 1-1 Spain, Euro 1984
Don´t miss the Iberian Derby - Spain vs Portugal Live @ 2.30 PM Eastern.
