Cape Town, June 28 (DPA) Portugal should learn from their 0-0 draw against Brazil in the group stages as they prepare to take on reigning European champions Spain in the World Cup football Round of 16, team boss Carlos Queiroz said Monday.
‘It could be said we had a training game, in the sense that Brazil played the same style of football that Spain might play against us,’ the Portuguese coach said in Cape Town’s Green Point stadium.
While Portugal thumped North Korea 7-0, they failed to score in their other two group matches – the game against Brazil being one of the drabbest of the tournament so far. At the same time, they have not conceded a single goal.
Spain’s star-studded squad has so far not fulfilled its attacking potential either, losing their opening game to Switzerland, then posting unconvincing wins over Honduras and Chile to top Group H.
Nonetheless, Queiroz expects an even but entertaining match between the Iberian rivals, who are meeting for the first time in the World Cup.
‘I believe it will be a quick game of football, with imagination, creativity, speed and great moves,’ he said of Tuesday’s game.
Playmaker Deco, who was ruled out of the North Korea and Brazil games with a hip injury, should take his place back in the side, Queiroz said.
Concerns over the form of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, whose goal against North Korea was his first since early 2009, are also unwarranted, the feisty Portuguese coach said.
The winners of the showdown in Green Point will take on either Japan or Paraguay, who meet earlier on Tuesday, in the quarter-finals.
