The biggest sporting Saturday of 2006 is here and the two quarter-finals are all about having two holding players.
France have Vieira & Makelele while Portugal have Petit & Tiago.
Brazil only have Gilberto Silva, England only have Hargreaves.
FRANCE, led by the colossal Patrick Vieira, have huge mental strength and that will overcome the world champions.
Two Brazilians I talked to yesterday said Cafu and Roberto Carlos should not be in the team. But they still think Brazil will win.
ROBINHO could turn Italy over, turn Spain over, turn England over, but I doubt if he can turn France over.
Thierry rarely gets the better of Lucio, but France have shown they can win without Thierry playing well.
Can Ronaldinho really turn it on today? If not, can Kaka score a goal or two? Will Ribery take Roberto Carlos apart and get him sent off ?
BIG PHIL will deploy three interchanging wingers and Simao and Figo can find Pauleta at Paul Robinson’s near post, even if Cristiano Ronaldo never will.
Portugal’s slick passing can isolate Hargreaves, and maybe split Terry and Rio Ferdinand.It boils down to this: Rio must play a blinder. Rio has to get to Maniche, or he will score.
If we had Carrick-Hargreaves we might win it comfortably. But with just one holding player it could be an ordeal, as usual.
No time for more, we are going out now, 11.30 am.