Durban, June 25 (DPA) Five-time champions Brazil and fellow title contenders Portugal played to a lacklustre 0-0 draw Friday as both nations advanced to the Round of 16 of the football World Cup.
Brazil, who had already secured a spot in the knockout stage from Group G before the game, had the best chance of the match, with Nilmar’s shot going off the left post at the half-hour mark.
The South American giants finished first in the group with seven points, while Portugal were placed second with five points.
In the Round of 16, Brazil will take on the second placed team from Group H Monday in Johannesburg. Chile are currently leading ahead of Spain and Switzerland. Portugal have a Round of 16 date with the group winners on Tuesday in Cape Town.
The only previous World Cup matchup between these teams came in the group stage at England 1966 where Portugal finished third and the defending champions Brazil bowed out in the first round thanks to Portugal’s 3-1 victory
Portugal coach Carlo Queiroz made four changes to the line-up that beat North Korea 7-0. Duda, Danny, Pepe and Ricardo Costa replaced Pedro Mendes, Simao, Miguel and Hugo Almeida. And Portugal’s Brazilian native stars Deco and Liedson also did not start the match.
As opposed to their 3-1 win over Ivory Coast, Brazil coach Carlos Dunga was forced to replace his suspended midfield mastermind Kaka with Julio Bapista. In addition, Dani Alves and Nilmar moved into the starting XI for Elano and Robinho.
Dani Alves’s long shot in the sixth minute was the first real attempt of the game.
But it was Portugal who invested more in attack. Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar did a good job on fending away Fabio Coentrao’s dangerous cross into the box from the left side after a quarter hour.
And Tiago’s blast from the outside went wide right three minutes later.
Portugal’s backline lacked the concentration for one second at the 30-minute mark and nearly paid for it. Maicon’s pass was allowed to reach Nilmar at the far left post where the Villarreal’s striker’s shot was blocked by Eduardo off the upright.
And Luis Fabiano’s header nine minutes later went just wide left as Brazil began to push forward more.
Three minutes after the re-start, Inter Milan defender Lucio raced down Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo to clear to corner a dangerous ball left of goal.
Portugal were just inches from taking the lead at the hour mark as Lucio’s clearance attempt in front of Ronaldo went across the goal mouth to Raul Meireles, whose shot went wide left from three yards out.
Brazil had more possession over the rest of the game but only rarely ventured forward with force – save for the final moments.
Lucio had a strong header with two minutes remaining and Ramires’ long blast deflected off a Portuguese defender to force Eduardo into a save.
