Football. Ua represents the announcement of the third round of the Confederations Cup in Group A between the national teams of New Zealand and Portugal.
In the final round of the group round of the Confederations Cup of Portugal, it is enough to score just one point to secure a semi-final. New Zealand, even the victory will bring only moral satisfaction.
New Zealand - Portugal Saturday, 18:00, St. Petersburg, Krestovsky, referee - Mark Geiger (USA).
After two defeats in the matches of the first two rounds, the New Zealand team lost even theoretical chances to continue the fight in the playoffs. The question is whether the strongest team in Oceania will be able to interrupt its 11-match losing streak or at least not lose to European champions.
Surely the coach of the main outsider of the tournament Anthony Hudson will not change his favorite tactics with hard pressure and fast flanking passes, but how effective is this?.
Team Portugal, one of the favorites of the tournament, has not yet guaranteed a place in the semifinals. In the case of defeats, both the Portuguese and Mexico, will have to take into account additional indicators, and at the moment advantage on the side of North Americans who, with equal points and the same difference in goals scored and goals scored, more often hit the opponent's gate than the Portuguese - 4 against 3.
Nevertheless, coach of European Champions Fernando Santos is so confident in the positive outcome that he decided not to use the leaders of his team Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Ricardo Quaresma in the duel, giving them the opportunity to rest before more important matches. Can not help the team Rafael Guerreiro, injured in the previous match.
Interesting facts - Portugal and New Zealand had not previously met on the football field.
- The winning series of the Oceania champion in the Confederations Cup is 11 matches.
Approximate compositions New Zealand: Marinovich - Doyle, Smith, Durante, Boxoll, Colvi - Thomas, Tuiloma, Lewis - Wood, Rojas.
Portugal: Rui Patrizio - Semedu, Neto, Jose Fonte, Eliseu - Andre Gomes, Danilo, Adrien Silva, Bernardo Silva, Andre Silva - Nani.
Words by Anthony Hudson, New Zealand national team coach:.
"I'm proud of the performance of our team. Despite the fact that we are predicted in each match defeat with a large score, we came here not to look at rivals from the bottom up.
And in a duel with Portugal, we will try to achieve a positive result. These are not empty words, I really believe that we can do it ".
Fernando Santos, coach of Portugal:.
"New Zealand acts in the British style, but for my charges this is not a problem. They have repeatedly faced teams that profess a similar style, both at the club level and at the national team level. I think that we will manage to win, but I am sure that it will not be easy ".
Forecast 0: 2.