March, 2009

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footballportugal Podcast – 30/03/09

Monday, March 30th, 2009

Those inside the Portugal camp are already describing this qualification campaign as a maratona. But the question is: are Portugal serious contenders for the final run-in or are they merely fun-runners in a dodgy clown outfit?

This weekend’s game against Sweden was inconclusive. The views of many people were that Portugal played well but were unlucky not to score at least one of their umpteen chances at goal. However, the dissenting voices claim that Portugal lack any imagination in the final third of the pitch and that Queiróz is making the wrong choices with his starting 11 and his facial hair. Find out our opinions in part one of the podcast and also discover the shocking fact that the big screen at the Parque das Nações is now lying in a derelict state, much to Phil’s disbelief.

In part 2 we concentrate on other ongoings in or associated with Portuguese football such as José Peseiro’s record breaking victory in charge of Saudi Arabia against Iran, Bruno Pereirinha’s expulsion from the U21 squad for imitating a Johan Cruyff-style penalty, Boavista beating Benfica in a friendly and Sporting’s incredibly pompous annual congress.

Sadly, there’ll be no podcasts for the next two weeks as Steve returns to Blighty for a much needed holiday, but Phil promises to post a round-up over the next couple of weeks so that you can keep your comments coming regarding the weekend’s results. Don’t forget also that Phil has a website which carries the most important developments in the Portuguese game - you could consider it the father, brother, mother or sister site to this one, depending on your perspective - which is footballportgal: http://www.footballportugal.com.pt/

Thanks for listening.

Steve and Phil

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footballportugal Podcast – 23/03/09

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

Controversy is the winner of this year’s Taça da Liga, with referee Lucilio Baptista deciding who would win the second edition of the competition. For Benfica and Sporting, the prize may have been meaningless but it was about all they had left in what is looking like yet another season chasing Porto’s shadow.

Sporting left the Algarve complaining of robbery and Pedro Silva left without even a loser’s medal, preferring to leave it where he had lobbed it, somewhere near the centre circle of the terribly maintained Estádio do Algarve pitch. Benfica won the game on penalties; Quim was the hero but few in Portugal are concerned with Quim’s great saves. The fact is that this game should never have reached a penalty shoot-out and in part 1 of the podcast we’ll give our opinions on the final that was dominated by Lucilio Baptista’s ineptness.

In part 2, Steve will give his verdict on the first half hour of the Taça de Portugal semi-final first leg, and Phil will fill in the rest with Raul Meireles re-finding his best form for Porto after a disappointing start to his season. We’ll discuss Braga’s exit from the UEFA Cup and also preview Portugal’s vital World Cup qualifier against Sweden this Saturday at the Estádio do Dragão.

Keep your comments coming, and we’ll see you next week.

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil.

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footballportugal Podcast – 16/03/09

Monday, March 16th, 2009

With the quality of Portuguese football being severely questioned in the wake of Sporting’s 12-1 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, we spend the first part of this week’s podcast asking how it was all possible and who was to blame. We bring you up to date on the reactions in the press and of sportinguistas, some of whom were incensed enough to send a death threat to certain people at the club. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom; both Braga and Porto demonstrated that Portuguese domestic football is alive and well, with Porto going through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and Braga earning a well-deserved draw away in the first leg of their UEFA Cup last 16 tie against PSG.

In part two we focus on the Liga. Benfica’s first home defeat of the season, at the hands of Vitória de Guimarães, has more or less handed the title to Porto. Sporting are now a point ahead of Benfica but 4 points behind Porto and statistics suggest that they’ll have to make history to catch up with the Dragões. Braga drop not only points but their faith in facsimile communication and life in next season’s Liga Vitalis is increasingly becoming a possibility for Trofense and Belenenses. On top of all this, we tell you about Portugal’s B-Team, predict the winner of next weekend’s Carlsberg Cup and discuss whether Quique Flores likes to get lost on his way to Benfica’s training ground.

Keep the comments coming. We’ll be with you again next week.

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

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footballportugal Podcast – 09/03/09

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Welcome once again to our podcast sobre futebol português … in English. In part 1 we report on the action that took place in the Liga at the weekend. There’s no change at the top, with Porto crushing a limp Leixões 1-4 in Matosinhos. Leixões’ display was so weak that rumours are flowing that the game might’ve been fixed, RTP analyst Rui Santos suggesting on Sunday that Leixões ‘keeper Beto made little effort to save some of Porto’s goals. Benfica didn’t have it so easy, grinding out a tough 1-2 away win against Naval in the seaside town of Figueira da Foz. Sporting had a far more comfortable experience, winning 2-0 at home against Paços thanks to early goals from Liedson and Derlei. Braga dropped points away at Estrela da Amadora, who were unlucky not to win. At the bottom of the table, both Belenenses and Trofense lost, making their position in the Liga even more precarious.

In Part 2 we give ourselves yet another chance to discuss Portuguese mineral water by focussing on the Liga Vitalis, aka the Liga de Honra, the second tier. Top of the table are Jorge Costa’s Olhanense, with their ex-pat claque, who are a point clear of the Azorean team Santa Clara. Down at the bottom of the table, Phil’s beloved Boavista are dangerously close to the drop-zone, having been beaten at the weekend by fellow relegation battlers Oliveirense.

We also preview Porto’s Champions League second leg against Atlético Madrid and the heightened security necessary for the game.

Please add you comments about the podcast, especially your opinions regarding Rui Santos’ allegations of match fixing, and also: What is the hidden ingredient in Luso mineral water that is good for cats but bad for us humans?

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

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footballportugal Podcast – 02/03/09

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Portuguese teams had mixed fortunes in Europe last week. Porto impressed, with Christian Rodriguez and Hulk playing out of their skins against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. Porto should’ve won the game by a fistful of goals but instead came away with a 2-2 draw, a result they may come to regret by the end of the second leg. On the other hand, Sporting suffered their worst home defeat and the heaviest European home game defeat for any Portuguese team on Wednesday when they were esmagados by Bayern Munich 5-0. The result left the ultras claque of Sporting, Juve Leo, singing for Paulo Bento to make good use of … er … someone’s excited manhood. In the aftermath of these big European fixtures, the Porto v Sporting clássico was something of a disappointment, ending 0-0 and with little to show except some ugly fouls and angry words between the players.

The one team who did profit from this result were Benfica, who beat Leixões 2-1 in a dramatic game at the Luz. We report on this and the 104th Benfica Gala, which took place last Saturday at the Casino Estoril. It’s a happy return for Carlos Carvalhal as his new team, Maritimo, beat his old team, Vitoria de Setubal, 5-1, helped by a Babá hat trick.

Keep the comments coming, let us know who won the BES league if possible and below you should find a picture of Senhora Steve in a close embrace with Dirk Kuyt.

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

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