Bruma: Portugal's Next Big Soccer Star

The Sporting Lisbon soccer academy has long been known for producing some of the most talented soccer players on the planet. Luis Figo, Simao Sabrosa, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo are just some of the talents that have gone on to become household names on the world soccer stage. While undoubtedly only seeing a small sample size, current U20 winger Bruma looks destined to become the not only the next great player out of the Sporting academy but one capable of reaching the level of current superstar Ronaldo.

Only 18 years of age, Bruma has been drawing comparisons with Ronaldo for the last few years with his superb displays for the national team at the youth level. Possessing sublime speed and dribbling ability, the Guinea-Bissau born product has eye opening talent and is starting to really hone those skills. Since finishing the season with the Sporting Lisbon A team, Bruma has amassed an impressive 10 goals in six games, five  goals in three games for the U19 squad and the same total in the same amount of games with the U20's at the current U-20 World Cup. In fact, Bruma currently leads the tournament in scoring and has scored more goals(five) than any other Portuguese player all-time at the competition, a list that includes the likes of Nuno Gomes and Nelson Oliviera who managed four each. With the possibility of four more games to go, it looks very likely that Bruma will add to that total even further.

While his goal scoring exploits are impressive his play making ability should is not going unnoticed. With opposing clubs focusing on stopping him,other players on the squad particularly towering forward Aladje who has found himself with more space to operate and has found the net on three occasions himself.  Bruma has two assists to go along with his goal tally.

Heading into a round of 16 game against Ghana on Wednesday, the talented winger and his teammates will look to mimic Portugal's golden generation who won the U20 World Cup in 1989 and also in 1991. With the spectacular Bruma leading the charge, the possibility of a third World Cup triumph is a distinct one. If his progression continues it won't be long before the biggest club teams in Europe come calling looking for his signature.

Portugal/Russia World Cup Qualifier Preview

                                            Everything To Play For At The Estadio Da Luz

It's a story most Portuguese national team observers have come to know well over the last few years. A squad filled with talent but once again underachieving in qualifying for a major tournament. Coming up second best to Denmark in qualifying for both the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, Portugal would come through victorious against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the playoffs on both occasions to reach both tournaments. Having drawn Northern Ireland at home, Isreal away and losing to Russia away, the playoffs look likely once again for this Portuguese side but can they even reach that target this time around? A loss to Russia on Friday would put that severely in doubt.

With 11 points through 6 games, Portugal is currently tied with Israel in points but below them in the standings because of goal difference. Russia sits in first with 12 points but with two less games played than both Portugal and Israel.  Based on current standings neither Portugal or Israel would make the playoff round as they sit as the ninth best second place team with only the top eight making the playoff round.

                                              Lack Of Finish And Defensive Frailties      

While the lack of offensive production from the forward spot in particular is nothing new for a national team that has lacked a top class striker for some time now, the defensive problems during the campaign have been unexpected. After a formidable defensive job at Euro 2012, where they allowed more than one goal just once, the team allowed three goals away in Isreal and has only been able to keep clean sheets against the bottom dwellers of the group in Azerbaijan and Luxembourg. Having accumulated too many yellow cards, centre-back Pepe will be unavailable for the game against Russia which means one of Valencia's Ricardo Costa or Zenit St Petersburg's Luis Neto will partner Bruno Alves in central defence. Considering his knowledge and experience of playing against the majority of the Russian squad in the Russian doemstic league, Luis Neto is likely to draw the assignment. Fabio Coentrao and Joao Periera should start at their usual left back and right back slots respectively.

While Joao Moutinho is a nailed on starter in central midfield, the other two spots in Paulo Bento's usual 4-3-3 midfield are up for debate. The Portuguese manager has usually opted for Fenerbache's Raul Meireles and Dynamo Kyiv's Miguel Veloso, neither player however has been in tantalizing form of late. Receiving his first call up young Sporting starlet Andre Santos may push for time while Paulo Machado, Custodio, Ruben Amorim and Ruben Micael are available off the bench. While usually playing on the wing for Portugal, Danny may also be an option in the midfield if more of a creative force is needed.

With only one goal during this campaign, Portugal certainly needs more from talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. The Russian focus will likely be on stopping the superstar which should allow space for other members of the squad to have opportunities. On they other flank, Paulo Bento has a decision on his hands. When healthy Manchester United winger Nani has been a locked in starter but with a sub-par year at United and battling injury problems he may have to settle for a place on the bench. Wolfsburg's Vieirinha was a revelation during the last few international fixtures and may have done enough to keep his starting spot.

At forward, Helder Postiga will likely start once again, the Real Zaragoza forward has a decent scoring record for the national team but his lack of pace and his wastefulness in front of net make him a very polarizing figure and a difficult one to watch. Deportivo forward Nelson Oliviera looked destined to be the future of the position for the national team but has not shown much improvement this year at all. Besiktas forward Hugo Almeida was injured for much of the season but did manage an impressive 9 goals in 11 games this season for the club and is another option off the bench.

Fabio Capello's Russian side has been solid through qualifying and has yet to concede a goal through four games. Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev has been superb and the Portuguese attack will have to be at it's best to beat him on the day. An away draw for Russia would suit them just fine so expect them to sit back and soak in Portuguese pressure early. A draw for Portugal wouldn't be the final nail in their coffin but it would certainly put them on the brink with just three games remaining.

Predicted Portugal Starting XI: Rui Patricio, Fabio Coentrao, Bruno Alves, Luis Neto, Joao Periera, Joao Moutinho, Miguel Veloso, Raul Meireles, Cristiano Ronaldo, Vieirinha, Helder Postiga    

    

 

Keeping Jorge Jesus The Right Move For Benfica?

With just one month left into the season, Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus was leading a charmed life. After all his Benfica side were leading the Portuguese league and in both the Europa League and Portuguese Cup finals. Talk amongst Benfica supporters had them dreaming of the treble season, little did they know what the future really held.

Undefeated in the league all year and with a four point lead with just three games remaining the club seemed destined to be league champions. With a penultimate game away to 2nd place FC Porto, managing all three points at home Estoril was of the uttermost importance. What played out proved to be the first nail in Benfica's horrific season ending collapse. Held at halftime, Estoril took the lead early in the second half but a Maxi Periera volley would level things midway through the second half. Two yellow cards in short order to Portuguese international Carlos Martins saw the team reduced to ten men and nearly lose the game. All in all, the Benfica lead at the top of the league was down to two points after a 1-1 home draw.

With everything now to play for at the Estadio Do Dragao, both clubs traded goals in the first half and the match seemed destined for a draw, a result that would have suited Benfica fine. That all changed in stoppage time when FC Porto substitute Kelvin fired home and sent the home crowd into delirium and Jorge Jesus down to his knees. The championship was now out of their hands and an FC Porto win on the last match day against Pacos Ferriera would confirm Benfica's fate to second place.

Sizable underdogs heading into the Europa League final against English Premier League club Chelsea, the choice to bench star striker Lima and replace him with Rodrigo was not a popular decision in most football circles. A 60th minute Fernando Torres opening goal for Chelsea was soon cancelled out by an Oscar Cardozo penalty kick goal. It was once again in stoppage time where Benfica hearts would break, Branislav Ivanovic would head home a corner with just a minute of time to play to give Chelsea a 2-1 Europa League final win.

With two trophies now out of their hands, a date with mid-table Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes in the Portuguese Cup final would surely stop the bleeding or so most people thought. A bit of fortune off a clearance allowed Benfica to go ahead through Nicholas Gaitan but once again the team would collapse in the final stages as Guimares would score twice in the final ten minutes through some shoddy Benfica defence. From possible treble winners to winning absolutely nothing, the campaign ended in absolute disaster. Perhaps the most indicative image of the season came after the final whistle when substituted striker Cardozo was caught on camera shoving Jorge Jesus and lambasting him for seemingly being taken off.

Having had such a dismal end to the season and with player dissent seemingly on the rise at the club, the future of Jorge Jesus was very much in doubt. However, news on Tuesday broke that his contract has indeed been extended at the club until June 2015. How supporters react to the news will be interesting, the club won one league championship and three Portuguese cup trophies since he took over in 2009 but would have starting from scratch with a new coach after such a tumultuous ending to the season perhaps have been the smarter move for the club. One thing is for sure, next season will start with more questions than answers for Portugal's most popular club.

   
              

League Title To Be Settled On Final Day

Just a few weeks ago, it seemed the Portuguese league title was all but decided, Benfica holding a comfortable four point lead over FC Porto had just come off of a prominent away win at Maritimo and knowing they controlled their own fate in the league despite an upcoming fixture at the Estadio Do Dragao against Porto in the penultimate fixture round of the season.


After dispatching Fenerbache in the Europa League semi-finals, moral seemed high at the Lisbon club of accomplishing a possible treble of the League Title, League Cup and the Europa League title. A home game against fourth placed Estoril seemed a winnable fixture at the Estadio Da Luz but the vistiors gave the home team much more trouble than most pundits thought they would and following the dismissal of Benfica midfielder Carlos Martins had a few opportunities to the win the game themselves. Alas, the game ended in a 1-1 draw but more importantly it opened the door for FC Porto to pass Benfica in the overall standings with a win at the Dragao the following week.

With both teams having not lost a game in the league thus far, the match proved a cagey affair with both teams trading goals in the first half. The game seemed destined for a draw which would have suited Benfica fine but a last gasp strike from Porto substitute Kelvin in stoppage time sent the Porto bench and fans into delirium while Benfica coach Jorge Jesus fell to his knees knowing his team's league championship aspirations may have just gone up in smoke.

A mid-week Europa League final loss to Chelsea thanks to another stoppage time goal added more misery to Benfica as a once promising season was wilting away at the seems. Heading into the final league fixtures which will be played in a few short hours, the math is simple: Benfica must win at home to relegation threatened  Moreirense and hope Porto do not equal their result away to surprise outfit Pacos Ferriera who have secured a Champions League qualification birth by finishing third in the league and only losing three times all season(one of those losses was to Porto 2-0 at the Dragao). Should Porto lose at Pacos and Benfica draw against Moreirense, the Lisbon could would win the league based on goal difference over Porto. All in all, the last matchday of the Portuguese League will surely be one that delivers plenty of drama but in the end Porto hold their own fate in their hands while Benfica do not.        

Gigantic but not insurmountable task ahead for Ronaldo and Real Madrid

                                  A first leg rout at the hands of Dortmund was unexpected

Heading into tonight's pivotal second leg fixture against Borussia Dortmund one thing is certain: Real Madrid will have to be at it's absolute best to overturn a 4-1 deficit from the first leg in Germany. In fact, Madrid had no answer for Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski who scored four times and destroyed the centre-back pairing of Pepe and Rafael Varane time after time.

                                           

                                                    Second Leg brings a new life line

Needing a 3-0 to win outright or a 4-1 result of their own to send the game into extra time, few pundits have given Real Madrid a chance against a Dortmund side which they have failed to beat on three different occasions throughout this year's Champions League. The circumstances however are completely different in this final game. With their backs against the wall and facing a real sense of urgency, Real Madrid will attack Dortmund in force and with the attacking prowess they possess, managing a large amount of goals against a Dortmund side who may feel comfortable with their lead is not out of the question at all.

                                                 

                                                      Changes coming for Real Madrid

After serving a red card suspension in the first leg, Alvaro Arbeloa will likely be back for Madrid at his preferred right-back place. The change will cause Sergio Ramos to slot back in at centre-back to pair up with Varane. Portuguese international Pepe will likely start the game on the bench after struggling to contain Lewandowski in the first leg. While Mesut Ozil started the last game on the wing, expect him to go back to his central midfield role while Angel Di Maria should come back into the starting 11 on the wing. Croatian midfielder Luka Modric who started the first leg will likely have to settle for a place on substitute's bench.    
                                                                   
                                                                

                                                     Ronaldo the key to any comeback

While the Portuguese star netted a goal in Germany after a terrible giveaway by Mats Hummels, he was often marked out of the match and unable to make his usual impact. Reports after the game stated Ronaldo may be battling a bit of a thigh injury and was kept out of the Madrid Derby this past weekend. Having been deemed fit to go, the talismanic Madrid star will need to be at his goal scoring best to overturn the tie in his team's favour and considering his Champions League form it may not be out of the realm of possibility that he equals Lewandowski's first leg performance. Any Madrid hopes of reaching the Champions League final depend on it.  
                                              
       

Champions League First-Leg Preview: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

Love him or hate him, you can't argue with success. A two-time Champions League winner and multiple league champion in various leagues, Jose Mourinho's resume is one that few soccer managers can hold a candle too. Never one to shy from the spotlight "The Special One" has had a rather tumultuous time as manager of Real Madrid with significant highs and lows but what happens in the next few weeks will likely cement his legacy with the world's most valuable soccer team.

After Barcelona were dismantled 4-0 by Bayern Munich in that's fixtures first leg yesterday, Mourinho's side becomes the real only realistic hope for Spain to not only reach the Champions League final but win it all. Standing in their way is a strong Borussia Dortmund side that managed a win and a draw against Real Madrid in the group stages of the competition and will be confident that they could do the same again.

                                                  Can they repeat the feat?

While Dortmund's midfield gave Madrid significant problems in the group stages, the news that midfield maestro Mario Gotze is on his way to Bayern in the summer will no doubt cause some anxiety in the Dortmund camp and the impact on Gotze in particular will be something to observe. Mourinho is a master tactician and will have undoubtedly made some adjustments from the group stage games. Stopping the likes of Gotze, Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski will be Mourinho's top priorities.

                                                       

                                                              5 matchup's to watch

Cristiano Ronaldo vs  Lukasz Piszczek: The Polish right-back will have his hands full with the Portuguese superstar who is leading the competition in scoring. With his Argentinian rival faltering, Ronaldo has the opportunity to leave a significant mark and add significant fuel to his bid to be FIFA Player Of The Year. Expect him to deliver on the big stage once again.

Mario Gotze vs Mesut Ozil: The battle in central midfield between the two creative German internationals will play a key role in each team's movement off the ball. With Ronaldo likely to be marked rigorously throughout the game, Ozil should have opportunities to make a significant impact with his dribbling and passing ability.

Marco Reus vs Sergio Ramos: With Alvaro Arbeloa suspended, Sergio Ramos will move over to right-back after playing the majority of the season at central defence. Having played that role for the majority of his career it shouldn't be an issue for Ramos but the pacy Reus could give him some trouble if he isn't careful.

Robert Lewandowski vs Pepe and Raphael Varane: With Ramos suspended against Galatasaray in the second leg, the duo of Pepe and Varane played together for the first time in the competition and the results weren't good. The young Frenchman Varane was caught out on several occasions by Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder and Madrid's once comfortable lead in the two legged tie dwindled significantly as he and Pepe didn't seem to be on the same page. If the duo continues to struggle together it could be a field day for Polish striker Robert Lewandowski who is in great form and has become one of the top rated strikers in all of world football.

Roman Weidenfeller vs Diego Lopez:  With two very offensive squads, goalkeepers Weidenfeller and Lopez will be very busy in net and whoever outperforms the other could be the difference. Having kept long term starter Iker Casillas on the sidelines for a long spell, the pressure is on Lopez to deliver a strong performance with any slip up likely causing pundits to call for the return of Casillas

Prediction: Dortmund's home form in the Champions League has been strong but I can Madrid nick a goal and send things back to Madrid all square at 1-1.           

 

 

Nani on borrowed time at Manchester United

Down a goal in the second half of the latest version of the Manchester Derby, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had a decision to make, who could he bring on to impact the game and level proceedings. Danny Welbeck had been playing out wide in a position he wasn't normally accustomed to and was the likely substitution.

Watching the match and knowing that Nani was available off the bench and with United needing a goal, the likely inclusion for Welbeck seemed inevitable...but it never came. Instead Antonio Valenica was deployed by Ferguson, a player that is often criticized for being one footed and has only managed 4 goals in the last two seasons. It was right then and there that the widespread speculation of a Nani departure following the season wasn't just media hearsay anymore but pretty much a given. The round of 16 red card Nani received against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League fixture will be in all likelihood his last major moment at the club.

                                                             

                                                       Changes coming at United
With Wilfried Zaha likely to join the club next season after being bought from Crystal Palace, Manchester United looks set to offload several players in the summer to deal with high costs in terms of player wages. While Nani seems to be the biggest name set to be transferred, fellow winger Valencia doesn't seem to be too far behind along with former FC Porto midfielder Anderson. With the influx of wide players at the club also including the likes of Ashley Young, the impressive Shinji Kagawa and the incoming Zaha, opportunities may be few and far between for high wage players like Nani in Sir Alex Ferguson's eyes. Last summer's signing of striker Robin Van Persie and his high wage is also a likely factor in the team's upcoming transfer policy.

                                                          

         
                                                          Best/Possible Destinations

Arsenal: With the two clubs conducting successful business last summer with Van Persie departing Arsenal for United and Arsene Wenger's known interest in Nani this seems like the best possible situation for the Portuguese winger. With Gervinho failing to impress for the most part, Lukas Podolski likely to leave the club in the summer and Theo Walcott's injury history the opportunity is there for Nani to nail down a starting spot with the Gunners. While the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wing may come sooner rather than later, Arsenal's free flowing offensive soccer would suit Nani well and playing alongside creative midfielders Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla wouldn't hurt either.

Tottenham: If Welsh winger Gareth Bale is indeed enticed to leave the club for greener pastures in the summer a spot on the wing is up for grabs. While Aaron Lennon seems entrenched on the team, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Lance Holtby have had their struggles at times which may cause Tottenham to go looking for some insurance.

Athletico Madrid: With media speculation linking striker Radamel Falcao with United, the likely transfer of the Colombian starlet would likely be a player plus cash transfer with Nani or perhaps Javier Hernandez being Madrid's likely player choice. La Liga's offensive style coupled with Athletico's strong use of their wingers at times could see Nani strive.

Juventus: The Serie A champions have long been rumored to have interest in Nani but whether or not he could succeed with the Bianconeri is a question in itself. With his lack of back tracking and the Italian league being known for more defensive oriented soccer, the likelihood of Nani succeeding is remote and would likely go down the same failed route of fellow Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma's stint with Inter Milan.  


                                         Living in Ronaldo's United shadow


When fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Real Madrid in 2009, Nani was expected to raise his game and pick up the slack at United but while both players share many similarities including great pace, flashy dribbling and strong crossing abilities they differ significantly on several key technical football attributes. Ronaldo's time at United saw him become a complete player with deft finishing ability with both his head and his feet, on the other hand Nani has shined mostly in a role as a play maker with his strong crossing abilities while chipping in goals here and there.

In reality, Nani was never going to be able to repeat Ronaldo's goal scoring exploits at United and for arguments sake very few in the world of soccer could have. Living up to his star compatriots accolades may have in fact put him in a precarious position both mentally and with United's brass and fans, his time with United undoubtedly going down as a failed chapter in his career. How the next chapter turns out will either make or break Nani's legacy as a footballer.