By Myles Palmer
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Mentally, England are stronger and they have more firepower.
Tactically, Portugal are superior in their flexibility and their understanding of opponents.
Tactically, I’m sure Big Phil is better than Sven.
But its hard to say because Sven is the rubber wall who never gives anything away. Questions bounce off him.
Sven is the Zen master of bland, so listening to him for a quote is like listening to the sound of one hand clapping.
While Sven tells you nothing, Big Phil tells you quite a lot.
Reading Richard Williams’s preview today, with Big Phil’s quotes, confirms my guess that Phil will gamble again and play a high line again.
Against Spain, he pushed Miguel up to a high position and pushed Nuno Valente up as well and held Jorge Andrade and Carvalho in the middle too and dared Spain to outpace his defence – which they could not do.
Joaquin is twice as fast as Beckham, but half as crafty.
As Gordon Strachan has noted, Becks is playing as an auxiliary right back now, allowing the other three to break.
I don’t think that works because it only gives him one pass, a long crossfield pass to Ashley Cole, the only player with a left foot to kill that ball and keep it wide and use pace on the counter.
If Portugal play a high line, somebody will have to run through onto a Rooney pass.
If it’s 0-0 after an hour, Dyer will be that man.
Since they are more skilful than us, its easier for them to interchange and play a fluid game.
DECO IS CUTE – and he persevers.He is a bit like Beardsley, but not as good. If Deco’s first 17 passes don’t work, he will be there to make the 18th and 19th. Deco can play keep-ball late in a game,make you foul him, get free-kicks, run down the clock.
With a day’s more rest, Portugal will be stronger and fitter in the last 20. All of which make you think I’m going for a home win.
Had an email today from humorous columnist Miles Kington, so I sent Miles the ANR previews and said : Now you know as much as I do. I’m not having a bet on this one, its too close to call. But I added that in my guts, deep in the fibre of my being, I believe that Rooney will do it again tonight.
IN 1966 I WAS THERE at Wembley when Bobby Charlton played the game of his life to put us in the final. And I’ve said that Rooney is our best since Bobby Charlton. I know this game is NOT at Wembley and I know that most people think it’s in the Stadium of Light, Lisbon. But I’ve got a funny feeling that this game is in Wayne Rooney’s school playground.
Saw my gambling greengrocer John this morning. John has been making a fortune this week, betting on the tournament. He asked if Rooney was better than Gazza.
I said : Yes, because Gazza was not playing for England at 18.
24th June 2004.