LISBON // Before World Cup qualifying began, Portugal would have been the favourites of many to not only reach South Africa but to win the actual tournament. However, their Group One campaign has, so far, been a huge disappointment after going two games without a win. And they cannot afford to lose any more ground when they host Albania tomorrow. Both teams have four points and share third place in the group with Hungary. They are three points behind leaders Denmark who won in Lisbon last month and the Portuguese settled for a goalless draw in Sweden last Saturday.
"We have to get it into our heads that we can't drop points at home," said midfielder Joao Moutinho. "In this game, specifically, we have no room for manoeuvre. We have to win," he added. Breaking down Albania's defensive wall, though, will not be easy as the Portuguese look for their first win since a 4-0 victory over Malta. Defender Paulo Ferreira warned: "They defend in depth,they get a lot of bodies behind the ball. We're going to need a lot of patience." The coach Carlos Queiroz needs to sharpen the attack to breach the visitors' defence after Portugal created few chances in Sweden. Danny is likely to feature in the midfield playmaking role as a replacement for the injured Deco.
With Nuno Gomes possibly starting up front, Cristiano Ronaldo will have more freedom to probe the Albanian flanks. The Manchester United winger did not make much of an impact against Sweden when Queiroz, formerly assistant coach at Old Trafford before taking charge of Portugal in July, deployed him as a target man. "We have to play in the attacking style we know so that we can start scoring," said Nani, Ronaldo's teammate at Manchester United. * AP
