Porto Did It Again - The Heroes Of The Dragao

FC Porto's victory over Arsenal at the Estadio do Dragao has given the Portuguese side a superb chance of progression to the next stage of the Champions League.

Indeed, it seems that each year the blue-and-whites have a new story to tell in Europe, and usually new storytellers doing so. That's because each summer their talent pool, painstakingly assembled from across Portugal and South America, is drained by other, more financially potent clubs.


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Will the same happen this year? Quite possibly. But in the meantime it's important to highlight the players who made the difference for Porto against Arsenal, and indeed who have been making the difference all season, even as Porto struggle behind Braga and Benfica in their domestic league.

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Ready for World Cup

Having qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Selecção das Quinas had its most successful decade to date, having qualified for all the editions of the World Cup and Euro Cup (Euro 2000, World Cup 2002, Euro 2004, World Cup 2006, Euro 2008, and World Cup 2010), along with Spain, Italy, Germany, and France, the only other four teams to have done so.

In the Final Draw, on 4th December 2009, Portugal was drawn in one of the toughest groups, the so called Group of Death where the Selecção das Quinas will be facing 5-time champions Brazil, Africa's top contenders Côte d'Ivoire and 1966 opponents North Korea. The Group of death will be the most exciting groups to see in the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Portugal will first face Côte d'Ivoire on 15 June 2010 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, followed by North Korea on 21 June 2010 at the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town and the last group match will be played against Brazil on 25 June 2010 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

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Portugal vs China date and venue defined

And the winner is… Coimbra. On the third of March 30.000 supporters will probably fill the stands of the beautiful “Estádio Cidade de Coimbra” to watch the friendly match with the People’s Republic of China . I hope to be amongst them. 20:45 GMT on a Wednesday evening.

Besides China we are also set to face the Cape Verde Islands during the training period at Covilhã prior to departing for South Africa. Not really meant to test the readiness of the team I suppose, but to try out some of Queiroz’s tactical masterminded schemes… brace yourselves.

We will also face Mozambique some time after arriving in South-Africa. Mozambique recently played at the CAN 2010 with not much to show for it – 1 draw, 2 defeats, 2 goals scored, 7 goals conceded. But the match should provide us with a clearer view of Carlos Queiroz’s starting eleven.

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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo fears 'complicated' group

Cristiano Ronaldo has emphasised the importance of hitting the ground running at next summer's World Cup after Portugal were handed one of the toughest possible draws for the group stages.

Portugal, who reached the finals courtesy of a play-off win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, must battle against Brazil, the Ivory Coast and North Korea for a place in the last 16 of the competition.

Five-time winners Brazil are the favourites for the tournament while African powerhouses Ivory Coast boast players of the calibre of Didier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Salomon Kalou.

And it is Portugal's clash with the Ivory Coast that Ronaldo believes could be crucial, with the two nations starting their Group G against each other in Port Elizabeth.

"Winning the first match will be very important," said Ronaldo, who could come up against Real Madrid team-mates Kaka and Marcelo as well as former Manchester United companion Anderson in the Brazil side.

"We have been handed a very complicated group. It's going to be difficult but I'm happy to be able to face my team-mates and friends.

"Football is always complicated. You cannot have regrets. We have to play well to win. We are motivated to face the best teams."

The world's most expensive player added: "Brazil are the strongest, but the Ivory Coast are also a great side. It's a difficult group. To get through it we have to be at our best."

If Portugal claim a top-two berth then it is possible they will come face to face with Iberian neighbours Spain in the last 16.

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That could pit Ronaldo against more of his Madrid team-mates in Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and Raul Albiol.

Asked about the prospect of maybe facing the European champions so early in the World Cup, Ronaldo added: "If we get through and we play Spain I would be happy. They are a great team, but right now my only concern is the group stage.

"It will be a good sign if we face Spain. It will mean we've got through."

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Preview - World Cup Qualifying play-offs

The final European qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be decided tonight, and every game is up for grabs. With attention on the Republic of Ireland, Football.co.uk previews the three remaining matches.

Bosnia (0) v (1) Portugal

Both sides have injury worries as Bosnia have an excellent chance of overturning the one-goal deficit in Zenica tonight.

Portugal may be without a number of high-profile stars for the game in Zenica, including ace Cristiano Ronaldo. Real Madrid expect him back in training on Friday, which is too late for him to have any impact in Bosnia.

Bruno Alves (ankle), goalscorer in the first leg, and Deco (muscle) are both worries as manager Carlos Queiroz faces a possible enforced tactical switch.

Bosnia will be hoping for a great start to the game but are also without key players. Emir Spahic, Elver Rahimic and Samir Muratovic all picked up bookings in Lisbon and are suspended for the return leg.

Slovenia (1) v (2) Russia

Slovenia striker Milijove Novakovic has rallied his team ahead of a crunch home encounter with Russia.

"Russia can count on real hell in Maribor. We will fight and try to score. When? It does not matter," the Cologne star said as his side prepare to overturn a one-goal deficit and qualify for the World Cup next year.

The Ljudski vrt Stadium has been a fortress for Slovenia during the qualifiers and, knowing they just need a 1-0 victory to qualify, they could hand a start to Nejc Pecnik, the scorer of their late equaliser.

Alan Dzagoev returns for the Russians, who have no fresh injury worries for the game. Manager Guus Hiddink believes that Slovenia have an advantage but added: "We have a one goal advantage and we will try to score, even though it will not be easy."

Ukraine (0) v (0) Greece

Ukraine go into this game as favourites to qualify for the World Cup after holding Greece to a scoreless draw in Athens.

Manager Oleksiy Myhaylychenko has just one player missing for the game as Grigoriy Yarmash is sick. Midfielder Anatoliy Tymoschuk said: "I have heard the excellent atmosphere in the stadium. The fans will support us and be our 12th man."

For Greece, Giorgios Karagounis and Sotiris Kyrgiakos both sat out training on Monday but are hoping to be fit for the clash.

The former European Champions have a slight advantage as any score draw would see them progress on away goals, Ukraine have to win to advance by right. Another 0-0 would take the tie to the lottery of a penalty shootout.

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