Diminished by injuries but led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal are playing their qualification for the World Cup with a perilous first round of play-off against Turkey.
The ocean is there, a stone’s throw away, a boat anchors in the port to take the team that will triumph this evening towards the final of the play-offs, the last stage before setting sail for Qatar and the World Cup next fall. A whole city, every country hopes that those who will take the pontoon of honor and embark on this journey will wear the red tunic of Portugal and not that of Turkey, the impotent come to claim the precious ticket. More accustomed to the blue of the local pride, FC Porto, the port city will be adorned with red to support Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates, more than ever in a delicate position. Indeed last November, a last-minute goal from Mitrovic plunged the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon into a stupor and the selection into the troubled and uncertain waters of the play-offs. A formula revisited for the occasion with two dry matches to play and no safety net in a group of four (against a round trip meeting previously, note).
“We have to win, be at the World Cup, and focus on this final that we will play tomorrow against Turkey (…) In the decisive matches, whether finals or matches that offer qualification, with the exception of the last match (a loss against Serbia 1-2, editor’s note), Portugal knew how to respond”, do not fear Fernando Santos. The Portuguese coach will however have to do without many of his executives. Thereby, Ruben Dias, Renato Sanches, Anthony Lopes, Ruben Neves and Nelson Semedo withdrew due to injuries, as the stainless defender Pepe (39) tested positive for Covid-19, without forgetting Joao Cancelo, absent because suspended. “We shouldn’t give too much importance to those who are not there. (…) we have talent. If we manage to have a good team spirit we will be able to overcome these roadblocks”, assured Diogo Jota, Tuesday at a press conference. The Liverpool striker will be one of the major assets of the European champions, with Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and the essential Cristiano Ronaldo, guide of this team, driven by the desire to play in his last World Cup.
“Ready for this difficult fight”
The Manchester United player will also be the main Portuguese threat and Turkey knows it well. However, the Turkish coach does not want to focus on him. “You talk about Ronaldo, but 11 players will be on the pitch. Our defenders are ready for this tough fight”supported Stefan Kuntz before adding. “We have the potential to compete with big teams. We have to be able to play big games like this.” Because the task promises to be difficult in the North of Portugal. “Here the fans can be hot”, warned Burak Yilmaz. Not enough to scare the Turkish captain and his young guard. “We have to participate in the World Cup. We didn’t do what we wanted during the Euros. It was a bad tournament for us and we disappointed our people”, defends Yusuf Yazici. The two players will constitute solid arguments just like the disconcerting Marseillais Cengiz Ünder or the Interist Hakan Calhanoglu, who will be essential to enlighten the game of theirs and surprise their opponents. “We have to have a game plan and stick to it. We have to be active. What we do will be more important than what the opponent does. We have to be ready to counter them,” explains Kuntz, aware that the salvation of his people will go through team cohesion and an irreproachable and conquering state of mind. One last point on which there is no doubt. “We didn’t come here as if we had lost in advance, or eliminated. We have dreams and we know what we want”, concluded Burak Yilmaz. Whether it’s Portugal or Turkey, neither nation wants to stay on the dock and miss the boat, which is patiently waiting.
The meeting between Portugal and Turkey will take place from 8:45 p.m., near the Dragao stadium, the home of FC Porto, in northern Portugal.
The 2022 World Cup Eurozone qualifiers play-off match between Portugal and Turkey will be broadcast live on TFX.
The match between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Burak Yilmaz’s Turkey will be available for streaming on the MyTF1 platform.
BetClic: Portugal: 1.36 / Draw: 5.10 / Turkey: 8.45
Bwin: Portugal: 1.28 / Draw: 4.20 / Turkey: 6.00
Winamax: Portugal: 1.36 / Draw: 5.10 / Turkey: 8.50
Portugal: Patricio – Cedric, Fonte, Inacio, Guerreiro – Moutinho, Pereira, Fernandes – Silva, Ronaldo, Jota.
Turkey: Cakir – Celik, Soyuncu, Demiral, Erkin – Under, Calhanoglu, Antalyali, Akturoglu – Yilmaz, Yazici.