soul24rage
Senior Member
@Fati_Future_BallonDor I would have played Joao Neves in the Euros 2024.
Portugal should hire me as their next head coach to win the World Cup
Portugal should hire me as their next head coach to win the World Cup
João Neves
- Thread starter MonteCuler
- Start date
jamrock
Senior Member
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Portugal going to have great chance at WC.
They have with Spain probably the most complete squad.
They have with Spain probably the most complete squad.
Gavi can make some good ground and long passes when he plays, not at top level though (not much chance to play in last 2 years either).
In term of ball striking, Neves is far superior, yes.
soul24rage
Senior Member
Their coach is probably one of their few weaknesses that they have
Temptation
Well-known member
Bruno is the best player in the PL rn.
I thought he was finished but he has picked up form yet again.
Maradona37
Well-known member
Portugal's problems are bending to past it Ronaldo, playing everything through Fernandes who will 100 percent get passed off the park in big games and - above all - their clown of a coach.
I have heard people talk them up before tournaments and they always fail to deliver (that lucky joke at Euro 2016 aside). They rarely even come close and have a history of being knocked out by similar level footballing countries in terms of population and/or current strength (Uruguay, Belgium, Morocco, USA) or nearly being knocked out by teams like Slovenia, or even being second in qualifying by Bosnia or Serbia.
I know they have a better squad now, but is counterbalanced by the factors mentioned in the first paragraph. I don't think they have the mentality and I am backing against them yet again.
In saying that, other than Spain or Argentina, everyone else has as many weaknesses or more than Portugal, too.
I have heard people talk them up before tournaments and they always fail to deliver (that lucky joke at Euro 2016 aside). They rarely even come close and have a history of being knocked out by similar level footballing countries in terms of population and/or current strength (Uruguay, Belgium, Morocco, USA) or nearly being knocked out by teams like Slovenia, or even being second in qualifying by Bosnia or Serbia.
I know they have a better squad now, but is counterbalanced by the factors mentioned in the first paragraph. I don't think they have the mentality and I am backing against them yet again.
In saying that, other than Spain or Argentina, everyone else has as many weaknesses or more than Portugal, too.
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Maradona37
Well-known member
He's getting stats in moments and through constant percentage play as he always does, but the midfield three he's the tip of is still getting passed off the park and being outplayed.
He is not the best player in the PL right now, for me. If he is that makes sense and proves that the PL is at a very mediocre level, right now.
The Newcastle game summed him up - created a few chances with his crossing but at the same time his lack of physicality and care of the ball was part of why Newcastle got so much joy.
The cost-benefit ratio isn't worth it with Fernandes. And that's been proven as United have consistently failed while he's been there (and yes, he has to take some blame too, it's not him being amazing while surrounded by donkeys)
Maradona37
Well-known member
You also have to take into account that - other than Uruguay back in the day, and they were a heavyweight then and were de facto World Champions having won the Olympics in the 1920s - no 'second tier nations' have ever won the World Cup. It tends to be won by very powerful football nations like Brazil, Italy, Germany, Argentina, France, England and Spain (and the latter two have definitely underperformed).
In recent decades we have had close runs from smaller nations, notably Croatia three times in their young history as an independent nation, but also Morocco, Netherlands (they are about the same level as Portugal as a football nation, maybe a bit bigger in league and NT achievements), Bulgaria and a few others. But in general, the big nations win out.
I am not suggesting that Portugal are not a big football nation - merely that history is not on their side. The trophy tends to be won by the truly elite football nations - the big five in power and wealth and league quality in Western Europe, as well as the two heavyweights in South America of Brazil and Argentina (and even Brazil are being left behind now, and who's to say what will happen to Argentina when their talisman Messi retires). Spain are the only new country to win the World Cup since 1998, and even 'debut winners' tend to be massive countries like Spain and France, and France had the benefit of home soil.
I actually think Portugal may have a better chance in 2030 - they will play most of their games at home, the young players like Neves et al will be well in their prime or at least approaching it and with more experience than now, and ancient Ronaldo (a big noose around their neck) and (hopefully) Martinez will be gone. Leaning into this point, most of the times Brazil or Argentina win when it's in the Americas. Of the European nations, only Germany (once) and Spain have ever won the World Cup outside of Europe, though those were in recent tournaments and back to back, solidfying Europe's growing power and the wealth disparity increasing.
That 'Europe outside Europe' might be a moot point as Argentina look the only real very likely contender from outside Europe, this time. Teams like Morocco and Ecuador are very strong but I'd be amazed if they actually won the whole thing.
In recent decades we have had close runs from smaller nations, notably Croatia three times in their young history as an independent nation, but also Morocco, Netherlands (they are about the same level as Portugal as a football nation, maybe a bit bigger in league and NT achievements), Bulgaria and a few others. But in general, the big nations win out.
I am not suggesting that Portugal are not a big football nation - merely that history is not on their side. The trophy tends to be won by the truly elite football nations - the big five in power and wealth and league quality in Western Europe, as well as the two heavyweights in South America of Brazil and Argentina (and even Brazil are being left behind now, and who's to say what will happen to Argentina when their talisman Messi retires). Spain are the only new country to win the World Cup since 1998, and even 'debut winners' tend to be massive countries like Spain and France, and France had the benefit of home soil.
I actually think Portugal may have a better chance in 2030 - they will play most of their games at home, the young players like Neves et al will be well in their prime or at least approaching it and with more experience than now, and ancient Ronaldo (a big noose around their neck) and (hopefully) Martinez will be gone. Leaning into this point, most of the times Brazil or Argentina win when it's in the Americas. Of the European nations, only Germany (once) and Spain have ever won the World Cup outside of Europe, though those were in recent tournaments and back to back, solidfying Europe's growing power and the wealth disparity increasing.
That 'Europe outside Europe' might be a moot point as Argentina look the only real very likely contender from outside Europe, this time. Teams like Morocco and Ecuador are very strong but I'd be amazed if they actually won the whole thing.
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