Pepe opens the way for slick Portugal

Group A
Portugal 2

* Pepe 61,
* Meireles 90

Turkey 0

* Duncan Castles at Stade de Geneve
* The Observer,
* Sunday June 8, 2008

Pepe celebrates his goal against Turkey

No national team to punt out at the quarter-finals this time, yet the Portuguese remain at the epicentre of the English game. Outstanding
player invoking heart murmurs at Manchester United, barnstorming coach
courted by Chelsea, three more Premier Leaguers in their starting XI,
Portugal floated satisfyingly above the week's dramas to open their Euro
campaign with an impressive victory.

Luiz Felipe Scolari sent his team out to attack, Cristiano Ronaldo threatened from every position in it, and a Real Madrid centre back scored the glorious opener to which his wannabe club-mate inevitably contributed. At the death, Ronaldo created one more thing of beauty and there might have been many more. This latest Seleccao created chance upon chance and struck every timber of the Turks' goal.

"This was the display I expected from the team, with good technical quality and great, impressive form," said Scolari. "We've been working on this. I've been in a few tournaments and I know how important it is to win your first match. We will keep this rhythm, we will be confident, but we will not let the confidence get to our players' heads. Because other teams can defeat us. Let's see if we can keep this rhythm and keep playing this beautiful football."

Ronaldo grew into his game. Possibly pressured by the furore over his stated desire to leave Manchester United, even Scolari admitted the winger had started slowly. Yet Ronaldo finished in style. "I'm pleased," he said. "I did not score, but I think I played well. Turkey played very defensively. They were closed - even when they were a goal down. It was a hard game and it was very important to start with a win. Everyone knew that."

Relaxed and open, Scolari had wise-cracked and eulogised on everything from tactics to religion on the eve of the match. Only one question raised hackles - an English newspaper journalist reprimanded for "a lack of respect" in his suggestion that 'Big Phil' had advised 'Grand Ronaldo' to declare for Real. Madrid's batting eyelashes were not Ronaldo's sole distraction. High in the Stade de Geneve sat his Spanish girlfriend Nereida Gallardo, her public image measurable in a recent Portuguese headline: "Exclusive: Nereida wearing clothes".

Scolari's selection was as promised - his standard 4-2-3-1 formation headed not by Ronaldo but by a conventional striker in Nuno Gomes, one of Portugal's five captains. Pressure to swap goalkeeper Ricardo with Quim was conveniently ended when the back-up succumbed to a fractured wrist.

Fatih Terim started with a 4-3-2-1. On the right of his three holders ex-Sheffield United forward Colin Kazim-Richards was booked inside five minutes. Nominally the left-sided attacker, Tuncay Sanli spent the opening quarter hour covering Ronaldo and the equally aggressive Jose Bosingwa.

Ronaldo was downed inside 60 seconds, though the linesman did not consider Hakan Balta's barge a foul. From Portugal's next attack, Bosingwa outsmarted the left back before popping a low shot against Volkan Demirel's post.

If Turkey's first chance ended in comedy - Nihat Kaveci stripping Tuncay of possession on the edge of the area - Portugal's ambition was offering opportunities on the counter. When Nihat flicked on at a corner, Tuncay threw himself to the deck in vain pursuit of a penalty. Mevlut Erdinc had more success drawing a free kick from Bosingwa, but Nihat could not convert.

On 17 minutes the Portuguese appeared to have the lead. Simao crossed from a corner and Pepe headed wide of Vorlan, beating his shirt badge to acclaim a first goal for his adopted country until the linesman's flag was pointed out.

Freed to drift into central areas, Ronaldo shed three markers before misdirecting his strike wide. After leaving a first convertible free kick to Simao (clipped narrowly over), he three-toed the next at goal - Volkan stretching just enough to touch against upright. Pepe all but converted another corner, and only a late Gokhan Zan intervention prevented Joao Moutinho converting Deco's gorgeous through ball.

Terim restructured at half-time, switching Sabri Sarioglu for the frustrated Mevlut and pushing Kazim-Richards forward. Emre Belozoglu claimed a penalty under the challenge of Simao, while Gokhan demonstrated what a proper foul was putting his leg through both of the winger's knees, injuring himself in the process. Advantage granted to him, Gomes was too precise with his shot, catching inside of post rather than net.

Scolari responded by moving Ronaldo to the left from where a crossfield one-two with the rampaging Pepe would form part of a wonderful opener. The Brazil-born defender started it with a midfield interception, exchanged possession with the winger then continued forward. A tighter, more delicate interchange with Gomes, allowed Pepe into the box, and a half-deflected shot claimed the lead.

Minutes later Portugal's match captain was heading against crossbar - a final act before making way for Nani. Armband and centre forward's role went to Ronaldo. "The idea was to give him a boost, some extra oomph, extra willingness, an extra pass and finally a goal," explained Scolari. It worked.

The Turks added an extra forward, Tuncay air kicked in front of
goal and Memhet Aurelio did his best to destroy Nani's ankle with a vicious
aerial challenge that Ronaldo correctly deemed worthy of expulsion. It did
not stop the Portuguese - Ronaldo turned a marker and timed a pass to the
breaking Moutinho. He span one of his own to tee up Raul Mereiles. They may miss England in the last eight, but carry on like this and Portugal might
just win the whole lot.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer