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AP - Luiz Felipe Scolari says
Portugal will give no quarter to ensure victory over Iran, even if it
means playing with an injury that could cost a player a month on the
sidelines.
"My players are ready to make any sacrifice," the Brazilian coach said
Friday. "If anyone on my team has to get or worsen an injury that'll
keep them out for the next 30 days so that Portugal wins, then so be
it."
The uncompromising Brazilian coach just wants three points, no matter
how they are achieved, in Saturday's game against the Iranians that
could prove decisive in Group D.
"As far as I'm concerned, winning 1-0 or 2-1 or whatever doesn't matter.
We just have to do what we need to do to reach the next round," Scolari
said.
A victory over Iran would make it two wins from two for Portugal. And if
Mexico defeats Angola in the other group match, a Portuguese win will
put it in the second phase for the first time in 40 years.
But Iran, coming off an opening game loss against Mexico, will be
fighting for survival.
Doubts about the fitness of FC Barcelona playmaker Deco and Manchester
United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom skipped some training
sessions last week with muscle complaints, won't weaken Portugal's
performance, Scolari said.
They both took past in Friday's session, and Scolari said he expected to
have them available for the game in Frankfurt. Deco sat out Portugal's
opening match.
"Iran has an excellent team," Scolari said. "Of our three group games, I
expect this one to be the hardest. I have to approach this game as if it
were a decider.
"Iran has a strong fighting spirit. So do we. Let's see who comes out on
top."
The coach, who prizes pragmatic soccer over entertaining play, has been
pumping up his players for a do-or-die encounter.
Like Portugal, the Iranians also went out in the first round at their
two previous appearances. Over the 1978 and 1998 tournaments Iran
recorded just one World Cup victory.
Iran's Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic
said the opening defeat was just a quirk.
"This is the best Iranian squad ever," he said. "Against Mexico, they
won because we made mistakes our players seldom make."
Portugal's weak point could be its backline.
Fernando Meira's form after replacing usual first-choice Jorge Andrade,
who has a long-term injury, in the central defense has been inconsistent
and could be vulnerable against the sharp Iranian strikers.
"We'll have to watch out. We need to approach this game prudently,"
defensive midfielder Francisco Costinha said.
"They're faster and stronger in midfield and in attack" than the
Angolans were, he said.
Iran also has internal problems to cope with, though.
Dogged by injuries and squabbling, the Iranians are having a rocky time
in Germany.
The team turned on Bayern Munich playmaker Ali Karimi last week when he
injured a teammate in training with a rough challenge.
Other Iranian players manhandled Karimi after the incident, which left
defender Mehrzad Madanchi uncertain for game.
Also, Ali Daei, Iran's captain and top international scorer with 109
goals, will likely miss the Portugal match because of a back injury.
And left back Sattar Zare is out after tearing a ligament in his right
knee in training a week ago.
"Who could have predicted so many injuries in such a short time?" said
Ivankovic.
Karimi also has been at the center of a row that broke out within the
Iranian team after the loss to Mexico, as some players accused him of
laziness.
Iran's three players from Germany's Bundesliga are expected to be ready
for the Portugal match.
But the trio - Karimi, forward Mehdi Mahdavikia of Hamburger SV, and
Vahid Hashemian of Hannover 96 - lack match fitness after sustaining
injuries in recent months. |
