Played
September 7, 2012 7:45 PM WAT
Stade Josy Barthel — Lëtzebuerg (Luxembourg)
Referee:‬ K. Tohver‎
Attendance:‬ 8054‎
 

Luxembourg - Portugal Preview: The Navigators want to smash scoring record against minnows

The tiny European state host the might of the Euro 2012 semi-finalists, with the "sad" Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates keen to break their nation's eight-goal winning margin

By Tom J Doyle

Cristiano Ronaldo celebra con Portugal
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

Luxembourg

Joubert
Hoffman, Blaise, Schnell,
Bettmer, Peters, Leweck, Gerson, Payal, Mutsch, Joachim
Portugal

Rui Patricio
Pereira, Coelho, Pepe, Coentrao
Moutinho, Meireles, Veloso
Ronaldo, Oliveira, Nani

Luxembourg go into this clash against the Euro 2012 semi-finalists with a fully-fit squad, so Luc Holtz will be able to name his strongest side against Portugal.

Aurelien Joachim will be looking to build on his tally of four international goals to cause a shock upset for Holtz's men.

Read Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo (thigh) and Pepe (ankle) should both return to the Portugal side despite missing training with slight injuries.

Raul Meireles may get a start despite a lack of playing time following his late move to Fenerbache, and he should be joined in the middle by Tottenham's failed target Joao Moutinho.

Nelson Oliveira should got the nod up front from Paulo Bento after impressing with a stunning goal against Panama.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Portugal thrashed Luxembourg 5-0 the last time the sides met in August 2011.
  • The Portuguese side have won just four of their nine games, despite reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2012.
  • Paulo Bento's side moved up to fourth place in the world rankings after a 2-0 victory against Panama in August.
  • Portugal beat Liechtenstein 8-0 in both 1994 and 1999, and may well break their scoring record if they are on form on Friday.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured right) has 36 international goals for Portugal in 96 appearances for his county.
  • Paulo Bento has been in charge of Portugal since 2010, winning 12 of his 20 games in charge, with four draws and four losses.
  • Luxembourg gained five points out of a possible 30 in the qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup, and only got four from a possible 30 when trying to qualify for Euro 2012.
  • Luc Holtz's side's 2-1 win against Albania in August 2011 was only their third competitive win in four years of Euro and World Cup qualifying campaigns. In the same time they have registered 24 losses.


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
World Cup Qualification 2014 (Europe) ‎(WCQE)‎ Sep 7, 2012 Luxembourg 1 - Portugal 2
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International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Aug 10, 2011 Portugal 5 - Luxembourg 0
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International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Jun 3, 2006 Luxembourg 0 - Portugal 3
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Last Five Matches
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Jonathan JoubertGoalkeeper
14Ante BukvicDefender
3Guy BlaiseDefender
5Tom SchnellDefender
-Ben Payal
8Gilles BettmerMidfielder
18GersonMidfielder
3Mathias JänischDefender
17Mario MutschMidfielder
9D. da MotaStriker
-Aurelien JoachimStriker
12Marc OberweisGoalkeeper
-Clayton Moreira
4Eric HoffmannDefender
-Chris PhilippsDefender
-Laurent JansMidfielder
7Charles LeweckMidfielder
-Alphonse Leweck
11Dan ColletteStriker
-Maurice DevilleStriker
12Rui PatricioGoalkeeper
2Bruno AlvesDefender
5Fabio CoentraoDefender
21João PereiraDefender
3PepeDefender
8Joao MoutinhoMidfielder
4Miguel VelosoMidfielder
17NaniStriker
16Raúl MeirelesMidfielder
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
23Hélder PostigaStriker
22BetoGoalkeeper
1EduardoGoalkeeper
-Miguel Lopes
-Nuno Coelho
13Ricardo CostaDefender
6CustodioMidfielder
-Ruben AmorimMidfielder
15Rubén MicaelMidfielder
-ÉderStriker
11Nélson OliveiraStriker
-PizziStriker
18Silvestre VarelaStriker
Results
Group A Matchday 1
Times In WAT
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edin  Dzeko Edin Dzeko
Striker
Man City
7 0
Tomer Hemed Tomer Hemed
Striker
Mallorca
6 0
Mesut Özil Mesut Özil
Midfielder
Real Madrid
5 2
Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Striker
Manchester United
5 1
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Manchester United
5 1