Euro 2008 Preview: Portugal-Turkey

Euro 2008's second match features 2004's losing finalists and a side that failed to reach the last tournament. It's an intriguing clash as Portugal take on Turkey in Basel.


Bad Memories

Portugal come into this game with their last European Championship game, of course, having ended in tragedy. A last-gasp defeat to the Greeks in front of a partisan crowd in Lisbon put paid to any illusions of gaining their first ever piece of silverware, and some might ask if their best chance ever has gone.

It's a fair question - there's nothing like home advantage, after all, and there's a lingering feeling that the squad, now bereft of the likes of Pauleta and Figo, lacks a certain something.

But at the same time there are grounds for optimism. After a rocky qualification path there is less pressure on the side than previously, and, of course, the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Carvalho and Quaresma are beginning to hit stride.

Still, defensive worries continue to dominate, and victory is thus far from assured.

Something To Prove

Thankfully for the Portuguese, the same applies to the Crescent-Stars. The Turks seem to have regressed since their glory days of reaching the semi-final of the 2002 World Cup, especially given that they have missed out on both major tournaments since then.

Even reaching this one was no sure thing: it took a late surge past Norway for the Turkish side to squeeze through alongside hated rivals Greece to the final tournament.

Yet here they are, and with a large Turkish contingent living in Switzerland, it's something of a home from home for Fatih Terim's men. That's a positive, for just like Portugal this is a side that tends to play better when surrounded by domestic comforts.

And they also seem to look the part up front. Nihat and Erding enter the tournament in massively high confidence; at the back, though, it may be tougher to keep things tight.

FORM GUIDE

Portugal

31 May 08 - Georgia (H) - WON 2-0 (Friendly)
26 Mar 08 - Greece (N) - LOST 2-1 (Friendly)
06 Feb 08 - Italy (N) - LOST 3-1 (Friendly)
21 Nov 07 - Finland (H) - DREW 0-0 (ECQ)
17 Nov 07 - Armenia (H) - WON 1-0 (ECQ)


Turkey

29 May 08 - Finland (N) - WON 2-0 (Friendly)
25 May 08 - Uruguay (N) - LOST 3-2 (Friendly)
20 May 08 - Slovakia (N) - WON 1-0 (Friendly)
26 Mar 08 - Belarus (A) - DREW 2-2 (Friendly)
06 Feb 08 - Sweden (H) - DREW 0-0 (Friendly)
21 Nov 07 - BiH (H) - WON 1-0 (ECQ)
17 Nov 07 - Norway (A) - WON 2-1 (ECQ)


TEAM NEWS

Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao and Quaresma are likely to provide the inventive force for a lone striker - Nuno Gomes, perhaps - while Bosingwa has recovered to play right-back.

Predicted Line-Up: Ricardo; Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira; João Moutnho, Petit; Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao, Deco; Nuno Gomes.


Turkey

Hamit Altintop is doubtful after his mucle injury but could yet make the side. Coach Terim will most likely stick with a 4-4-2, with either Senturk or on-form Erdinc partnering Nihat up front. Aurelio is likely to be the lynchpin of the midfield.

Predicted Line-Up: Recber; Gokhan Zan, Asik, Cetin, Balta; Altintop, Aurelio, Emre, Arda; Nihat, Senturk.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portugal - Cristiano Ronaldo : His last trip to a European Championship ended in heartbreak, but so much has changed since then. The Manchester United man has just enjoyed the year of his life as he helped his side to both the Champions League and Premier League titles, scooping the top scorer award along the way. Rumours of his impending move to Real Madrid continue to circulate, but he's stated that all he's worried about right now is Portugal.

Turkey - Nihat Kahveci : The Villarreal man may not have enjoyed quite as productive a season as Ronaldo, but in his own way he's back in the big time. The ex-Real Sociedad man cut a mean partnership up front with Giuseppe Rossi for Villarreal and proved himself deadly in front of goal, not least on the counter. With Hakan Sukur having stepped back from the national squad, Nihat can stake a claim to being the next Turkish striking legend.


PREDICTION

These two sides conceded more goals than any other qualifying team except Poland, and at the other end they averaged around two per game. As such this could be one of Euro 2008's more open ties, but it's worth remembering that both teams tend to do better at home than on their travels. It's going to be very, very close, but Portugal might just squeeze it.

Portugal 2-1 Turkey