SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Portugal prepare for World Cup clash with Spain

Record ID: 452799

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Portugal prepare for World Cup clash with Spain
  • Date: 24th June 2010
  • Summary: BARBED WIRE WITH TABLE MOUNTAIN IN THE BACKGROUND BUS CARRYING PORTUGUESE SQUAD ARRIVES FANS SCREAM AND RUSH TOWARDS THE BUS POLICEMEN BUS PULLING IN STADIUM BEHIND FENCE ATHLONE STADIUM SIGN WIDE OF SHOT OF THE PITCH, PORTUGUESE PLAYERS RUNNING FORWARD CRISTIANO RONALDO (ON THE RIGHT) AND TEAMMATE RUNNING COACH CARLOS QUEIROZ WATCHING TEAM VARIOUS OF PORTUGUESE PLAYERS WARMING UP WIDE SHOT OF COACH QUEIROZ AT THE NEWS BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CARLOS QUEIROZ, PORTUGAL COACH, SAYING: "It's not because we have scored more goals than others. Having statistics doesn't help us beat Spain. We have to be more focused and we have to try to be the best Portugal that we've ever seen. What we did in the group phase, what we've done up to yesterday is not enough if we want to beat Spain." VARIOUS OF PORTUGUESE TEAM TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CARLOS QUEIROZ, PORTUGAL COACH, SAYING: "We want that the game of football be fair to both teams and that is why we did perhaps raise our, we were surprised, shall we say, that we had four South American referees to referee our four games. And four referees that have been nominated, from Uruguay, Chilean and Argentinean referee and Uruguayan referee. We did find this a bit odd that only South American referees have been appointed to referee the games that Portugal has played in this World Cup." VARIOUS OF PORTUGUESE PLAYERS TRAINING STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CARLOS QUEIROZ, PORTUGAL COACH, SAYING: "There is a regional rivalry between amongst our two teams, there are also rivalries at socio-cultural and historic levels between the two Iberian nations, and hence a game between Portugal and Spain is always a mouthwatering game Im sure of that, as occurs for example in the derbies the classical games between England and Germany." REPORTERS IN MEDIA BRIEFING QUEIROZ LEAVES MEDIA BRIEFING
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4LHO26ICECAP4953J3YQRD5GN
  • Story Text: Portugal's coach, Carlos Queiroz said that his team's successes and the number of goals they have scored in the 2010 World Cup will not be enough to beat Spain.
    "It's not because we have scored more goals than others. Having statistics doesn't help us beat Spain. We have to be more focused and we have to try to be the best Portugal that we've ever seen. What we did in the group phase, what we've done up to yesterday is not enough if we want to beat Spain," said Queiroz.
    Queiroz was speaking in Cape Town on Monday (June 28) ahead of his team's Round of 16 match against Spain on Tuesday (June 29).
    All four of Portugal's group matches were officiated by South American referees, something Queiroz queried, calling it "surprising."
    "We did find this a bit odd that only South American referees have been appointed to referee the games that Portugal has played in this World Cup."
    Portugal has seven players on yellow cards, while the Spanish have not collected a single caution. Queiroz says the yellow cards do not concern him at this stage, but they may become more critical in later rounds. He also said that his players are 100 percent fit.
    Portugal's coach predicted an exciting and creative game on Tuesday. He likened the rivalry between the two teams to the competitiveness between teams like Argentina and Brazil, and England and Germany.
    "There is a regional rivalry between amongst our two teams, there are also rivalries at socio-cultural and historic levels between the two Iberian nations, and hence a game between Portugal and Spain is always a mouthwatering game I'm sure of that," said Queiroz.
    Spain and Portugal, who have never met at a finals, know the winners at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium will avoid the big guns with Paraguay or Japan waiting in the last eight.
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