FIFA World Cup™ 2010: Preview - Spain vs Portugal
| Date Time Venue Referee | : 29 June 2010 (RSA)/30 June 2010 (IDN) : 20:30 (RSA)/01:30 WIB (IDN) (live RCTI) : Green Point Stadium, Cape Town City, South Africa : Hector BALDASSI (ARG) |
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Set to take centre stage in Cape Town on 29 June is a glittering Round of 16 clash between two neighbours and contenders for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ crown: Spain and Portugal. Standing second and third respectively in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, the eagerly anticipated encounter between the Iberian duo at the Green Point Stadium is the sides’ first meeting at world football’s top table.
Expectations are extremely high ahead of the last-16 meeting between two teams considered among the pre-tournament contenders for the coveted Trophy. And with La Roja and A Selecção das Quinas both having had to come through a gruelling group phase, one of the fancied pair will be heading home much earlier than expected.
European champions Spain arrived at South Africa 2010 as firm favourites for the world title along with Brazil, though Vicente del Bosque’s team were given a harsh wake-up call in an opening 1-0 defeat against Switzerland. Showing their mettle, La Selección gritted their teeth and won their next two Group H games against Honduras and Chile to qualify in top spot in their section and avoid a last-16 meeting with Dunga’s charges.
Portugal, for their part, safely negotiated a fiercely competitive Group G also containing Côte d’Ivoire, Korea DPR and Brazil. Carlos Queiroz’s solid side played out a goalless opening draw with Didier Drogba and Co before cutting loose in a 7-0 success over the North Koreans. Following that goalfest, another scoreless draw in their final game against the five-time world champions was enough to secure second spot and a place in the knockout stages.
Both coaches have near-to-full-strength squads from which to choose, though former Real Madrid boss Del Bosque will be without key midfielder Xabi Alonso and defender Raul Albiol. Opposite number Queiroz, who also once held the reins at Los Merengues, welcomes back midfield schemer Deco though cannot call upon the versatile Ruben Amorim.
==============================Expectations are extremely high ahead of the last-16 meeting between two teams considered among the pre-tournament contenders for the coveted Trophy. And with La Roja and A Selecção das Quinas both having had to come through a gruelling group phase, one of the fancied pair will be heading home much earlier than expected.
European champions Spain arrived at South Africa 2010 as firm favourites for the world title along with Brazil, though Vicente del Bosque’s team were given a harsh wake-up call in an opening 1-0 defeat against Switzerland. Showing their mettle, La Selección gritted their teeth and won their next two Group H games against Honduras and Chile to qualify in top spot in their section and avoid a last-16 meeting with Dunga’s charges.
Portugal, for their part, safely negotiated a fiercely competitive Group G also containing Côte d’Ivoire, Korea DPR and Brazil. Carlos Queiroz’s solid side played out a goalless opening draw with Didier Drogba and Co before cutting loose in a 7-0 success over the North Koreans. Following that goalfest, another scoreless draw in their final game against the five-time world champions was enough to secure second spot and a place in the knockout stages.
Both coaches have near-to-full-strength squads from which to choose, though former Real Madrid boss Del Bosque will be without key midfielder Xabi Alonso and defender Raul Albiol. Opposite number Queiroz, who also once held the reins at Los Merengues, welcomes back midfield schemer Deco though cannot call upon the versatile Ruben Amorim.
::: HEAD TO HEAD :::
| Spain | Portugal | |
| 32 15 12 5 71 37 | Match Played Wins Draws Losses Goal For Goal Against | 32 5 12 15 37 71 |
FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 09/04/1950 02/04/1950 18/03/1934 11/03/1934 | POR ESP POR ESP | 2-2 (0-1) 5-1 (3-1) 1-2 (1-2) 9-0 (3-0) | ESP POR ESP POR |
Continental Final
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 20/06/2004 17/06/1984 | ESP POR | 0-1 (0-0) 1-1 (0-0) | POR ESP |
Friendly
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 06/09/2003 13/02/2002 19/01/1994 15/01/1992 16/01/1991 20/06/1981 26/09/1979 15/11/1964 13/04/1958 03/06/1956 20/03/1949 21/03/1948 26/01/1947 06/05/1945 11/03/1945 16/03/1941 12/01/1941 05/05/1935 02/04/1933 30/11/1930 17/03/1929 08/01/1928 17/05/1925 16/12/1923 17/12/1922 18/12/1921 | POR ESP ESP POR ESP POR ESP POR ESP POR POR ESP POR ESP POR ESP POR POR ESP POR ESP POR POR ESP POR ESP | 0-3 (0-1) 1-1 (1-1) 2-2 0-0 1-1 2-0 1-1 2-1 1-0 3-1 1-1 2-0 4-1 4-2 2-2 5-1 2-2 3-3 3-0 0-1 5-0 2-2 0-2 3-0 1-2 3-1 | ESP POR POR ESP POR ESP POR ESP POR ESP ESP POR ESP POR ESP POR ESP ESP POR ESP POR ESP ESP POR ESP POR |
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