The pressure of the group leader certainly took its toll today when Portugal won against a relaxed and unworried Czech side who is not finding any particular sign of improvements beyond Libor Sionko. A think to mention was the labor of Felipao on not touching the starting XI. The real question was, what can Cristiano do?
The game started with a good solid defending Czech side. But the goos start did not last long due to an early goal at 8'. The melee in the box, produced by a shot by CR7 finally went into the net after an agonizing shot by Deco. After a few attempts by the Czech side the goal came through Libor Sionko, by far the best Czech player in the tournament. The goal, at 17', was a release for the Czech side that used the open spaces created by the Portugal's contention. The remaining minutes of the match were a pure struggle of the Portuguese side to try to find an equalizer. It was really a struggle due to the Czech pull that provided the different strategies to do it. The only noticeable thing about CR7 was the 'Ronnie Rocket' (previously mentioned in the blog) at 46'.
The ordered Czech midfield prevailed, with several attempts on the box with pressure as main ingredient, before the second lead by the Iberic side came. At 62' Deco found CR7 in a fine cross just inside the box. The Man Utd player finished straight and at the bottom. Plasil advances along with Sionko's were stopped by Pepe. The game was in the brick of the equalizer when my personal request arrived: Ricardo Quaresma at 80'. To finish this player defined the game after a Cristiano play.
Switzerland v. Turkey 1-2
The previous fight in the WC qualifier reminded us of the tension between Turkey and 'Europe'. The match saw an obliged Turkey face a strong opposition. As early as 20' the game saw the intrusion the heavy storm, that affected the game seriously. The game was full of flaws on both sides due to the dirty pitch and thus dirty game. A FK was deviated by Demirel at 24', taken by Barnetta. The players that rose above in the home side were Senderos and Behrami. A wood work deflected at 29' was a remainder of the home strength. The struggle on both sides ended when the lead came through Yakin, with the help of the pitch. Yakin missed the second goal minutes after, at 35', with the goal opened after a Behrami cross. The Turkish center back provided several gaps.
In the 57' of the second half Senturk header leveled the score. "The rain performed its secret ministry" paraphrasing Coleridge, due to the awful state of the grass. The game went from one end to another counting on the fact that the defensive mistakes were enhanced by the heavy rain. The fresh player Colombian born Vonhlanten entered at 72'. The Turkish side pushed as far as the box in the 80' and the counter-attacks were in hand every time the home side gained possession. In the end it was Arda Turan who inaugured the Turkish tradition of nerve breaking endings. He shot after a cut in the left side leaving the opposition completely stunned. The finished hopes of the home side were evident from the departure of the star Frei to the Manager's wife illness. A real tragedy by the host.
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