Portugal will be hoping to kick-start their World Cup qualifying campaign at home on Wednesday as they host dark horses Albania…

Uninspiring Start

Despite being within touching distance of group leaders Denmark, Portugal will be fairly disappointed with their start to the qualifying campaign. Of most concern will be the fact that they lost their first home game 2-3 to Denmark, thereby heaping unnecessary pressure on the squad for the road ahead. Additionally, the frontline, while full of fancy tricks, looked short on finishing quality against Sweden on Saturday, and will need to improve against a gutsy Albanian side.

On paper, however, Portugal are by far the strongest side in the group. Of course, tired old clichés about games being played on paper come to mind, but Portugal should realistically have enough quality to claim a playoff place, at the very least, by the end of the campaign. The fact that players like Quaresma and Danny were on the bench against Sweden, not to mention injured players like Deco, Carvalho, Maniche and Simao in reserve, indicates the Portugal have far more depth than their rivals.

Down to Earth

After two games, Albania were indulging in delusions of grandeur after finding themselves top of the group, but a 2-0 loss away to Hungary sent them plummeting to fifth position, albeit on the same points as Hungary and Portugal above them. Still, they would certainly have taken four points from three games if offered beforehand.

On Wednesday night, however, the Albanians face their most crucial match of the campaign. If they can scrape a draw, or even put in a respectable performance in defeat, it will prove to the rest of the group that they are there to compete. If the Portuguese attacking pressure overwhelms them, it will be a major blow to confidence and alert the other sides that they can be bullied. In reality, Albania do not have enough depth to seriously challenge for a qualification place, but they are more than capable of ruining other team’s campaigns.

FORM GUIDE

Portugal

DREW 0-0 (A) Sweden (World Cup Qualifier  - 11th October)

LOST 2-3 (H) Denmark (World Cup Qualifier – 10th September)

WON 4-0 (A) Malta (World Cup Qualifier – 6th September)

WON 5-0 (H) Faroe Islands (Friendly – 20th August)

LOST 2-3 (N) Germany (Euro 2008 Quarter Final – 19th June)

Albania

LOST 2-0 (A) Hungary (World Cup Qualifier – 11th October)

WON 3-0 (H) Malta (World Cup Qualifier – 10th September)

DREW 0-0 (H) Sweden (World Cup Qualifier – 6th September)

WON 2-0 (H) Liechtenstein (Friendly – 20th August)

LOST 1-0 (N) Poland (Friendly – 27th May)

Team News

Portugal

Portugal are missing the considerable experience of Ricardo Carvalho, Maniche, Simao, and most significantly Deco, whose absence was certainly felt in Sweden. The only change to the starting line-up could come in the form of Danny or Quaresma replacing Nani.

Probable Starting X1 – Quim- Bosingwa, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Paulo Ferreira – Meira, Meireles, Moutinho – Danny, Ronaldo, Almeida

Albania

Despite their loss to Hungary, it was an encouraging performance and it is hard to see Albania making any changes to their line-up in such a short space of time.

Probable Starting X1 - Beqaj – Beqiri, Vengelli, Dallku, Curri – Cana, Agolli, Duro, Skela – Lala, Bogdani

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portugal– In the absence of Deco, it will be up to Joao Moutinho, his heir apparent, to pull the strings in midfield and provide a sorely needed link between the midfield and attack. After a quiet game in midweek he will be seeking to impress.

Albania– Lorik Cana, the captain of Marseille, is the only Albanian player with considerable experience at the highest level of football, after having participated in his club’s recent Champions League campaigns. He will need to draw on all of his experience to guide Albania to an unlikely result in Braga.

PREDICTION

Despite their underwhelming start to the campaign, Portugal should have too much firepower for Albania. Eager to impress their home fans, they should ease to a comfortable victory.

Portugal 3-0 Albania

Arjun Miglani

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