Academician football pundit sees Spain closer to the finals of Euro 2012. Portugal vs Spain Preview & Analysis

Euro 2012 News, Donetsk, Ukraine / NationalTurk Sports – Portugal vs Spain Euro 2012 match is a firm candidate to be one of the unforgettable games in recent European tournaments.

Just as in Germany vs Greece game this Portugal vs Spain Euro 2012 game contains not only world class players in Ronaldo, Nani, Pepe, Iniesta, Xavi, Torres, Casillas ; also a battle atmosphere for the two occupants of the Iberian peninsula.

Spain and Portugal may be neighbours but that doesn’t deem the tension and intensity of Portugal vs Spain clash.

Some regard Spain vs Portugal Euro 2012 match as a Real Madrid vs Barcelona derby, since both National teams are comprised of both club’s players. Spain favors the playing style of Barcelona while Portugal plays like a Real Madrid.

NationalTurk reporter and football scholar Müslüm Gülhan analyses the Portugal vs Spain Euro 2012 Semi finals from both team’s perspectives.

NationalTurk : Mr. Gülhan, Spain vs Portugal clash of Iberian Peninsula..What do you think about the first of Euro 2012 semi-finals that features Portugal vs Spain ?

Müslüm Gülhan : The Portugal vs Spain match should be analyzed from a psychological perspective rather than technical and tactical angles, especially for the Portugal team. The most significant reason is that many of the players in the Portugal team play in the Spanish league. While they all are individually very successful players, they have failed at international and club teams against Spain and Spanish teams. Will Portuguese players be hung-up against Spain, this complexness feeling can affect their performance positively but also negatively.

Portugal vs Spain Euro 2012 Analysis : Portugal plays with Improvisation

Portugal, as I said earlier, is not a team of  organized play and systematic, they improvise, but against the Spanish team Portugal have two advantages. Portugal play quick passes and they go straight to attack, not many side passes involved in their game and they have got Cristiano Ronaldo ‘s creativity and power. I find Portugal’s chances to find a goal or even goals very likely given these circumstances.

However, the Ronaldo fact for Portugal is as well as an advantage as it is a disadvantage because Portugal players look constantly for Ronaldo when they are close to opponent’s goal thus lose their efficiency in the game. Furthermore Spanish defense and Spain goalkeeper Casillas know Ronaldo very well which can prove to be a major advantage for Spain in this Portugal vs Spain game.

Another disadvantage for Portugal side appears at the striker position. Neither Helder Postiga nor Hugo Almeida are good enough. Postiga won’t play due to his injury and the lack of Almeida’s scoring and passing abilities, which by the way is the reason why he plays in Turkish league, puts Portugal into a disadvantageous position vs Spain.

Spain plays systematic passing almost to a perfection, plenty of players passing the ball and the opponent loses its concentration and lust for the game game, this also helps hindering the attack of the opponent by keeping the possesion which is also a supreme defensive strategy. [ Spain have the best defence at Euro 2012 so far, conceding just one goal, and not a single goal for the last 299 minutes]

In David Villa ‘s absence they will start the Spain vs Portugal game with a balanced midfield containing 6 players. They suffer a shortage of goal chances as Midfielders such as Fabregas, Silva and Iniesta appear to be the their major goal scoring midfield players  but in truth these players are better in assisting their teammates than scoring goals.

Spain vs Portugal Euro 2012 Analysis : Llorente would be better selection at ST for Spain

This 6 – player midfield is the main reason why Spain games in this Euro 2012 tournament are boring and with not many goal chances.

I think Spain will start with Torres upfront but my choice would be Llorente instead of Torres as Llorente had a better season and is in better physical condition than Torres currently is. I think Spain would have more goal chances with him in the Spanish starting XI vs Portugal.

I expect to see a great and entertaining game, Spain are big favorites but Portugal’s daily impromptu improvisional approach and their explosiveness makes this Portugal vs Spain Euro 2012 Semi Final match quite unpredictable.

Müslüm Gülhan will be here tomorrow with the preview and analysis of Germany vs Italy game.

Portugal vs Spain Euro 2012 : Did you know these facts about Spain and Portugal ?

Following Real Madrid’s early domination of the European Cup, the Spanish national team won the European Championships at their first attempt in 1964 by beating the Soviet Union in the final in Madrid.

Spain’s solely international five goal crushing victory was incidentally vs Portugal in 1934 by Isidro Langara.

Spain will be the first National team ever to retain a European Championship trophy if they can get past in Spain vs Portugal match and go to the final of Euro 2012 and win the tournament this year. There are 6 players still remaining from their 2008 winning team: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas.

Portugal vs Spain Euro 2012 – Some crazy facts and stats about both teams

Spain will also be the first international team to win three major trophies in a row, which would be an amazing feat. Spain are unbeaten in 18 competitive fixtures since their 1-0 loss to Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup. But have lost four out of 14 friendlies.

Pepe scored Portugal’s opening goal at Euro 2012, as he did in Euro 2008.

Portugal suffered a training ground fight following their 1-0 victory with a Ronaldo header over the Czech Republic. Ricardo Quaresma and Miguel Lopes had to be separated following a clash, perhaps suggesting that the pressure is starting to get to the Portuguese squad.

Portugal have put out the same starting for all four of their matches at the tournament so far and is expected to put the same 11 on the pitch for Spain vs Portugal Euro 2012 game with only one change. Striker Hugo Almeida will replace injured Postiga for Portugal vs Spain clash.

Cristiano Ronaldo has a over a goal a game record with Real Madrid but haven’t succeeded in doing the incredible goal scoring feat with Portugal. The star winger averages closer to a goal every 3 games for Portugal.

Spain vs Portugal Euro 2012 – Spain has a positive win record vs Portugal but last 12 games Portugal are clearly better

Spain have a positive all-time record vs Portugal over 34 matches between Spain and Portugal (W16 D12 L6). La Roja have only won two of their last 12 against the Seleccao, a fact that makes the Portugal vs Spain Euro 2012 Semi final more tense.

Ghosts of Jorge Mendes