No Ronaldo but no excuses for Portugal

Andy Mitten

• Last Updated: November 13. 2009 10:47PM UAE / November 13. 2009 6:47PM GMT

Newly naturalised striker Liedson trains with the Portugal team yesterday. Armando Franca / AP

Given their dreadful start to their World Cup qualifying group, Portugal are fortunate to have any aspirations of reaching the finals in South Africa next June.

Carlos Quieroz’s side enjoyed a late surge to seize second place in Group One from Sweden and their record of five wins, four draws and one defeat finally gained some credibility.

It remains inconceivable that the semi-finalists from Germany 2006, who also boast the current World Player of the Year, will not be in South Africa, but they have to overcome Bosnia-Herzegovina over two legs starting tonight in Lisbon – without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Quieroz did call Ronaldo up to his squad, but the winger, who has an ankle injury, is not ready to play.

“I’ll be in Lisbon,” lamented Ronaldo, who hopes to return for Real Madrid’s huge game at Barcelona in two weeks. “I’ll be supporting my teammates because we are all desperate to go to the World Cup.”

Defender Jose Boswingwa is also absent, but with players of the quality of defender Ricardo Carvalho, playmaker Deco and newly naturalised striker Liedson, Portugal are clear favourites.

“We have enough quality to plug the gap,” said Deco. “We can’t use his [Ronaldo’s] absence as an excuse. We know it won’t be easy but we are confident.”

Quieroz is in his second spell as Portuguese manager and, despite spells coaching around the world, he has never completely won over his compatriots, many of whom view him as a perfect assistant, but not the man for taking ultimate responsibility.

Portugal are ranked 10th in the world by Fifa, Bosnia-Herzegovina 42nd. The two have never met before, with the Balkan country, which only achieved independence in 1992, hoping to reach the finals for the first time. Much of the credit for them finishing second behind Spain should go to Croatian coach Miroslav Blazevic. Now 74, he led Croatia to a magnificent third-place finish in France 1998, but he inherited a Bosnia side whose players were threatening to go on strike.

Blazevic succeeded in uniting the players, instilled an attacking spirit and oversaw the successful group stage.

Standing tall at almost two metres, striker Edin Dzeko is the undisputed star of their line-up.

The 23-year-old’s 38 goals in 72 games for Wolfsburg is bettered by an even higher goal ratio for his country. Dzeko’s 14 goals in 21 games since he made his national team debut in 2007 have been crucial. He scored nine times in the qualifying group.

“The Portuguese start as favourites, no doubt about it,” said Dzeko. “They have a great team and a huge amount of experience, although that doesn’t mean we don’t stand a chance. There are two games, and we’ll give it everything. We could achieve something incredible, and that’s what we intend to do.”

amitten@thenational.ae

Portugal v Bosnia & Herzegovina, 12.30am, Aljazeera Sport +2