The boss explained ahead of the game:
“I want to create routines, competition and integration for those who arrived later. I’m counting on all these players until 1 June. They are all on an equal footing.”
Talking about the 4-3-3 formation which Portugal will use against the Cape Verde Islands, Queiroz continued:
“We have a balance now that allows us to run more risks and be bolder in some occasions of the game. Moreover, some players play this system (4-3-3) in their clubs and so are used to it and we can take advantage of that.
“The basic structure has been this. The strategy is to attack and defend as a unit, regardless of the model. We are convinced that we have the players to win games, but we also have to make sure that we stay in the match and can guarantee the right result.”
Many football fans around the world enjoy Portugal’s style of play as a unit but they’ve also moaned about the team’s unconvincing shooting performances. Portugal won their last friendly 2-0 against China but statistics confirmed that the score line should have been much more emphatic in favor of the Portuguese who squandered a host of chances.
On Monday night at 18:30 GMT, supporters would be glad to see Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, and Liedson step up to the challenge by at least repeating the 4-1 win that the Portuguese national football team had over Cape Verde on May 26, 2006. However, Cape Verde are unbeaten since October 2008. Like Portugal did during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, they defeated Angola on a 1-0 score line in March 2009. They also thrashed Equatorial Guinea 5-0 and stunned Malta 2-0 before facing Angola again and drawing 1-1. Cape Verde haven’t played a single international friendly match in 2010.
Portugal’s starting line up
Goalkeeper: Eduardo
Defenders: Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Fabio Coentrao, Bruno Alves
Midfielders: Pedro Mendes, Deco, Miguel Veloso,
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Liedson, Nani
