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Thursday, 02 September 2010 10:54

Eduardo and Yannick: “We’re focused on getting two wins”

Duo unwilling to discuss Queiroz and confident of positive start

eduardo-20091127.jpgPortugal begin their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign tomorrow. Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the future of head coach Carlos Queiroz, goalkeeper Eduardo and striker Yannick Djalo insist there will be no excuses for failing to clock up two wins.
 
The Seleccao take on Cyprus in Guimaraes, and do so without the suspended Queiroz. Portugal will also be under the orders of interim manager Agostinho Oliveira four days later in Oslo when they play Norway.
 
“Obviously we would have preferred everything to be calmer, but we are confident and we will do everything to win the first games. We have to follow our leader (Oliveira) and not think about anything else,” said one of Portugal’s most impressive performers in South Africa, Eduardo.  
 

Past mistakes

“The aim is to make a winning start and avoid the repetition of past mistakes. What happened in the last qualification campaign cannot be allowed to happen again. There are a lot of new faces, it’s true. But the ambition is the same. We have quality and a huge desire to do good things.”
 
Sporting forward Yannick Djalo echoed the thoughts of the Genoa player, saying he did not want to dwell on the Queiroz situation. “I don’t really want to talk about that. What we have to do is give our best. We are favourites for these two games and it is forbidden to drop points.”
 

Surprise call-up

The speed merchant admitted that in spite of his bright start to the new season the call-up took him by surprise. “I’m feeling good in my club but I wasn’t expecting to be called up at this time. I was more worried about helping Sporting achieve their objectives. Now I’m here and I can help the team, I believe in this. I’m going to give my maximum.
 
“I can take advantage of the call-up to have more opportunities in the future. I’m in good shape; I started the season well, like I did two years ago. I just hope the injuries don’t appear again to complicate things.”
 
The match kicks off at the Dom Afonso Henriques Stadium in Guimaraes at 8.45pm Lisbon time tomorrow.
 
by Tom Kundert
 
Comments (8)
effect
8 Friday, 03 September 2010 14:49
Nathan/USA
Torpiano, the only way CQ's absence would be positive is if it were permanent. As it is, the only effects will be negative. You can tell from the players' comments that they aren't particularly happy about all of the drama and just want to play through it. If he would just resign or they would fire him, then we could move on. There's probably a lot more going on here then meets the eye.
Come on!
7 Friday, 03 September 2010 13:20
Fabio / UK London
We can do this and hopefuly we can get 2 wins in the bag.
FORCA PORTUGAL!
Quieroz
6 Friday, 03 September 2010 08:48
torpiano, uk
Without CQ we might actually play really well in the first half of the qualifying campaign!

Anyone else think CQ's suspension could potentially have a positive effect on the team?
Line up
5 Thursday, 02 September 2010 22:31
Matthew
I would've selected Joao Pereira over Miguel and Daniel Carrico over Coelho.

Eduardo
Silvio Carvalho Alves Coentrao
Fernandes
Moutinho Meireles
Quaresma Almeida Nani

Forca Portugal JUST WIN!
FORMATION
4 Thursday, 02 September 2010 21:57
Rob/Canada
i like albertos lineup i would just change FERNANDES for veloso because i think hes more tough on the tackle/defensivly.And i think Ruben is better than Moutinho offensivly ....we'll see this year.FORCA PORTUGAL
Formation
3 Thursday, 02 September 2010 16:52
Rob/CAN
4-2-3-1
Silvio-Alves-Carvalho-Coentrao
Meireles-Veloso
Nani-Moutinho-Quaresma
Almeida
Difficult circumstances
2 Thursday, 02 September 2010 14:55
Alberto/Jersey, Channel Islands
It's not the best of circumstances in-which to start a qualifying campaign, but a victory would show that the team are strong enough to get through it.
Good luck boys!!!!
1 Thursday, 02 September 2010 12:42
Jerrold/ Canada
I hope what they say is true.

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