ROUND OF 16: SPAIN v PORTUGAL (Cape Town, 7.30pm, RTÉ 2, BBC 1):MATCH OF the day goes down in Cape Town tonight between the Iberian neighbours, both of whom came here with serious designs on the trophy. Spain and Portugal are second and third respectively in the Fifa rankings and the game will be a examination of the true credentials of the winner.
Both of them struggled a little more than they would have expected in the group phases, hence this early encounter.
The Spanish suffered a surprise setback to the Swiss while the Portuguese came through the deathly Group G which also contained Ivory Coast, North Korea and Brazil.
Portugal’s first-round performance is best remembered for the 7-0 drubbing of the Koreans, a flamboyance which makes it all the more surprising that they are the only team left in the competition with a perfect defensive record.
Both teams have close to full-strength squads to choose from though the Spaniards will be without key playmaker Xabi Alonso, who sprained an ankle in the 2-1 win over Chile. Coach Vicente del Bosque is expected to bring in Javi Martinez as a replacement. Spain will also miss the defender Raul Albiol.
Portugal have Deco available again, the player having recovered from a hip problem. Deco has not played for Portugal since their opening game of the tournament against Ivory Coast and in the tradition of his clubmates at Chelsea has been critical of his manager, Carlos Queiroz.
Portugal are likely to be without the winger Danny, who suffered bruising to his leg in the final group match against Brazil, which means Deco may regain his place. Deco’s clubmate, full-back Paulo Ferreira, returns in place of Miguel.
Striker Liedson looks like starting in place of the defender Duda with a place likely to be found for Simao Sabrosa in midfield.
Both managers are expected to stick to their 4-3-3 formations. In a shoot-out normally the smart money in those circumstances would be on the Spanish front three, but Fernando Torres’s form has been poor and the Liverpool player has yet to complete a full 90 minutes.
Both managers have been playing the GAA game, running down their own side’s chances and talking up the opposition.
“We’ve seen how Portugal controlled the game against Brazil, hitting them on the counter-attack. I take no satisfaction from the fact we’re up against Portugal instead of Brazil. They are both great national teams,” said Del Bosque of his Portuguese opposition.
“We can’t go into the round of 16 simply on reputation or statistics. The players now have to deliver the goods,” said Portugal’s gaffer, Queiroz.
History favours the Spanish who have won 15 of the 32 games between the two countries (the Portuguese have won just five) and this evening history and the odds still favour Spain.
