Ever since Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast were drawn together in this year’s Group of Death, one assumption has remained unchallenged: Brazil would win the group.
Not any more.
Portugal’s 7-0 on Monday thumping of North Korea — the final Group G side — was impressive in its own right. But it was doubly so when compared to how Brazil huffed and puffed against the same team.
While Brazil had to endure a nervous last few minutes against the tiny nation in their opening game, emerging with a 2-1 victory, Portugal put on a scintillating show.
The goals, scored by six different players, ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous.
The outstanding Tiago’s gorgeous through ball and Raul Meireles’ emphatic finish for the first goal was the sublime. It was Portugal’s biggest-ever win the World Cup, but the real significance lies in the confidence the Europeans will take into their match with the Selecao.
Atletico Madrid’s Tiago, to whom official Man of the Match Ronaldo chummily handed over his bauble, says Portugal now have eyes only for the Brazilians.
“We played good football, we’re happy for that as much as for scoring a lot of goals,” he said after the game in Cape Town’s Green Point stadium. “Now we start to think about playing Brazil and looking to finish first in the group.” There is absolutely no reason why the Portuguese cannot take out Brazil — particularly given Ronaldo has finally broken an international scoring duck that stretched back to February 2009 and could begin banging them in.
