I was one of the lucky 27258 people that were in the Alvalade XXI stadium yesterday!
This game was simply magnificent, the most fantastic I've ever seen live. And to think I only paid 10 euros to see it...
The atmosphere was great and I have to say that those who only support the team when they are winning (that's not supporting, that's merely celebrating) and didn't believe in our players and staff, choosing not going to the stadium, must be really regretting it. Our team deserved a full stadium, even after the game with Liechtenstein. Well, it's their bad, and anyway they're not important, the ones that went to the stadium were truly and always with the team, giving them the support they needed. I hope that now, in the next home game, people fill the stadium and enthusiastically cheer our team, during the 90 minutes. I hope that people start respecting more Scolari and our players... Criticizing is one thing (and indeed they were to be criticized after the pathetic display and attitude in Saturday's 2nd half with Liechtenstein) but bashing is another one. We can't have extremist attitudes, where they're Gods one day and sh!t the other...
Well, moving on... It was a perfect night for us. Everything went well for our NT and bad for Russia... 12 shots, 7 goals, 5 of them outstanding well positioned rockets from outside the area!!! Games like this one only happen once in a decade or even more. The team reacted in the best possible way to the shockingly disappointing draw against Liechtenstein, displaying a remarkable commitment to the game. Of course, analysing objectively Portugal's NT real value, we clearly aren't anywhere as miserable as we were against Liechtenstein but also not as excellent as we were yesterday. What can you say? We're a people of 8 or 80, lol.
But seriously, I don't have doubts we have one of the best NT's in the world, capable of beating anyone on our day.
Every player deserves compliment (although Ricardo and Paulo Ferreira are clearly out of form and with a very low confidence) and applause! Great display!
But I have to highlight two players (well, Ricardo Carvalho always deserves a special word because he is pure CLASS. Seeing him live, being able to notice more carefully his movements and positioning, what he does is really amazing...).
About Ronaldo [:Bow:] - I've already said several times what I think of him. I will only repeat that he is such a complete player and rememeber he has only 19 years old. Can you imagine what he will be doing in 4 years if he keeps this evolution? He can become a legendary player.
About Deco [:Bow:] - What an outstanding game! What an outstanding player! Clearly the MOTM today and one of the best performances by a NT player ever. He devastated the Russian defenders with his dribbling (os responsáveis pelo relvado de Alvalade devem ter estado até hoje de manhã a recolher os rins dos tipos, lol), he delivered pinpoint passes, he made great combinations, he scored a wonderful goal, he recovered several balls, he was everywhere on the field, he released all of his class yesterday night at Alvalade. Against Liechtenstein he had already been the only player that made an acceptable performance and showed true commitment to the game. Now I challenge any of those that opposed Deco in the NT to prove he doesn't honour Portugal's shirt and name as much (or even more) than any other Portuguese player...
As a conclusion: we always seem to rise our game against prestiged opponents and disappoint against "lesser" teams. This is a serious problem we have and that needs to change once and for all. Let's hope that in the next game, against Luxembourg, we display the same attitude and mentality as today, to avoid another Liechtenstein. Nowadays, your name and fame don't win games, only hard-work, on the field, showing there your superiority. Hopefully our players learned the lesson!
Congrats to them for yesterday's game! They were brilliant! And "Força, Portugal!!!"