Quarter Final Preview: England Vs Portugal

I understand now, crystal clear like plasma TV static on a pitch black Wednesday night. England's opportunity to avenge their defeat to Portugal in Euro 2004 has been served to them on a platter yet again. Much like how Argentina were served to them for Beckham to exorcise the 1998 Simeone demons 4-years ago, England have the chance to bury a stake deep into Portuguese hearts. And they get to romp two revenge debts with one swift blow.

Luiz Felipe Scolari masterminded England's demise four years ago when he was the coach of Brazil, coming back from an early Michael Owen goal to win with two masterclass moves from Ronaldinho - one to set up Rivaldo's goal and another with a audacious free kick (that is if he intended it, the onus is still out on that).

Lui Figo

But unlike four years ago, Scolari doesn't have the class of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo to call on. What he does have is a classy veteran, a sensational playmaker and a supremely talented young upstart - but there's a possibility that all three will not line up against England on Saturday. In Luis Figo, Scolari has the inspirational leader, the one that makes things happen, the one with the drive to win, especially at the tail end of a dazzling career at club level. But his stupidity in headbutting a Dutch player in their match was caught on tape and there is a likelihood that he might be suspended for it. Deco the hard-working playmaker won't be available because he was sent off in that sensational encounter against the Dutch and Cristiano Ronaldo, the nippy super boy of Manchester is nursing an injury. Without the trinity, the Portuguese look severely thin on paper.

And to add sparkle and brimstone into an already steaming pot of combustibles - Scolari recently turned down the offer of taking over as head coach of England, citing privacy issues. Secawan Bola has always maintained that Scolari was our favored choice to take over. His classy attacking style and passionate touchline tirades were seen as essential improvements from Eriksson's point, double click and hope-it-happens culture.

So now he stands at the opposite end yet again, with England (or at least the FA) probably burning to prove to Scolari that he made a sucky choice. And on top of that, incoming England coach is on the touchlines assisting Eriksson with tactics.

Wayne Rooney

Much of England's potency in their 2004 encounter rested on the shoulders of Wayne Rooney, the English talisman. As such, their attacking resolve disappeared as soon as he was injured. Much rests on his shoulders yet again in this tie. With Owen gone home with an injury, Peter Crouch looking indifferent and Theo Walcott a bystander at best, Rooney is yet again handed the task of unlocking the Portuguese. He has not opened his account as of yet but judging by his movement and running against Ecuador, he is at the very least, back in shape. Lampard has not been helping much at the goal front with his terrible finishing and Gerrard has cast doubts over his ability to stamp authority futher up field with a lazy performance against Ecuador.

To lose three times in a row in a major tournament to a man that was shortlisted to lead them is perhaps a little too much for expectant English hearts to bear. So England have to win. And they've just been presented with an opportunity to, with some key Portuguese players suspended or injured. However, there's also little doubt that England is playing some of their ugliest football in recent years. But playing attractive football never got you anywhere if you don't win. Just ask the Spanish. Then again, to win playing ugly football like Greece did in 2004 is perhaps unthinkable as well.

Will it be heartbreak or triumph for the English and the Portuguese? Stay tuned for the cruncher on Saturday.

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