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Shambolic Portugal sink to new low

Brazil 6-2 Portugal

Portugal crashed to their heaviest defeat for over 50 years last night as they were thrashed 6-2 by Brazil.

Luis Fabiano scored a hat-trick and Maicon, Elano and Adriano all got on the scoresheet for Brazil, who had not won a single game in 2008. Danny and Simao scored the Portugal goals.

Carlos Queiroz started the match by trying out a new 4-2-3-1 tactical system. Tiago and Maniche were the defensive midfielders, with Deco, Simao and Ronaldo given the creative responsibilities to serve the lone striker, Danny.

And Portugal, who had a good recent record against Brazil, winning two and drawing one of their last three meetings, got off to an excellent start. Deco crossed from the left flank and Bruno Alves fired in a shot which Danny skilfully deflected into the net with a clever back-heel.

Robinho runs riot

The lead did not last long, however. In the 9th minute Robinho, who gave the Portuguese defence the run-around all night, shrugged off the attentions of Pepe and slipped a pass to the inexplicably unmarked Fabiano 15 metres from goal, who had no problem in finding the net.

Pepe was having a match to forget, and on 15 minutes Robinho showed the Real Madrid defender a clean pair of heels again and shot just wide. Ten minutes later Kaka fed a pass to Fabiano, who turned neatly and tucked a shot past Quim to give Brazil the lead.

Portugal were being overrun in midfield and as Kaka shot just over the bar after a quick exchange with Robinho, the visitors would have been happy to get to the interval with just a one-goal deficit.

At the break Queiroz brought on Meireles for Tiago and Nani for Danny, pushing Ronaldo into the centre-forward position, but the second-half continued to be one-way traffic.

Goal flurry

A crazy nine-minute spell brought four further goals. In the 56th minute a Maicon cross-shot beat goalkeeper Quim at his near post, then Fabiano turned in a rebound after the Benfica stopper had parried a Robinho shot to make the score 4-1.

Simao reduced the arrears almost immediately by drilling a slide-rule Deco pass past Julio Cesar, but a superb Elano strike restored Brazil’s three-goal advantage in the 65th minute.

Portugal’s humiliation was complete in the final minute when substitute Adriano powered a header into the top corner.

Carlos Queiroz, Portugal coach:

“I think we got carried away with the first goal and thought things would be easy, but after it was 1-0 the team fell apart. Some of the goals we conceded were pathetic, as was the lack of concentration. We started to stretch ourselves, concede space and this cannot happen, especially in a game against Brazil.

“We did not manage to recover the ball and afterwards the goals came in such a disingenuous and easy manner, which cannot happen. It’s a heavy defeat, without a doubt.

“The players do feel it and they are not happy with what occurred. I called some things to attention, but what they were will remain between me and them. We lost our sense of responsibility, but I will take responsibility for this heavy defeat. I do not want any of it to reach the players.”

Dunga, Brazil coach:

“We showed our worth. The team was efficient and took advantage of the opportunities they created. Perfect football does not exist, but what you have to do is to attack and defend well. It was important to win after we did not play well in recent games.”

Brazil:
Julio Cesar, Maicon (Daniel Alves, 79), Luisao, Thiago Silva, Kleber (Alex, 82), Elano (Mancini, 77), Gilberto Silva, Kaka, Anderson (Josue, 80), Luis Fabiano (Adriano, 67), Robinho (Marcelo, 82)

Portugal:
Quim, Bosingwa, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Paulo Ferreira, Maniche, Tiago (Meireles, 46), Deco (Moutinho, 67), Danny (Nani, 46), Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao (Almeida, 77)

Goals:
[0-1] Danny, 5
[1-1] Fabiano, 9
[2-1] Fabiano, 25
[3-1] Fabiano, 57
[4-1] Maicon, 56
[4-2] Simao, 62
[5-2] Elano, 65
[6-2] Adriano, 90