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Portugal’s scoring problems mean they are missing Bébé at the World Cup Portugal’s scoring problems mean they are missing Bébé at the World Cup
(35 minutes later)
When Bébé, considered one of Manchester’s United worst ever signings, is the best Portuguese goalscorer in the national league following his loan to modest Paços of Ferreira, it becomes easier to gauge the paucity of attacking talent in a country that has nurtured some brilliant strikers. When Bébé, considered one of Manchester’s United worst ever signings, is the best Portuguese goalscorer in the national league following his loan to modest Paços de Ferreira, it becomes easier to gauge the paucity of attacking talent in a country that has nurtured some brilliant strikers.
Tiago Manuel Dias Correia, or Bébé, finished the Portuguese league season with 11 goals. The leading goalscorer was the Colombian Jackson Martínez of Porto, with 20 goals in 30 matches. The second best Portuguese striker was the Sporting midfielder Adrien Silva and seven of his modest tally of eight goals came from penalties. Tiago Manuel Dias Correia, or Bébé, finished the Portuguese league season with 11 goals. The leading goalscorer was the Colombian Jackson Martínez of Porto, with 20 goals in 30 matches. The second highest Portuguese scorer was the Sporting Lisbon midfielder Adrien Silva and seven of his modest tally of eight goals came from penalties.
The biggest teams in Portugal field strikers from Colombia, Algeria and Brazil. The home-reared matadores, a short list, find employment in foreign leagues. Portugal’s coach Paulo Bento keeps showing his faith in Hélder Postiga of Lazio and Besiktas’s Hugo Almeida. Both strikers have succumbed rapidly to injuries, leaving the combative Éder as his sole option. The man from Braga scored only three goals in 13 league matches. The biggest teams in Portugal field strikers from Colombia, Algeria and Brazil. The home-reared matadores, a short list, find employment in foreign leagues. Portugal’s coach Paulo Bento keeps showing his faith in Hélder Postiga of Lazio and Besiktas’s Hugo Almeida. Both strikers have succumbed to injuries early on, leaving the combative Éder as his sole option. The man from Braga scored only three goals in 13 league matches.
Portugal seem unable to produce strikers with the quality of their wingers or midfielders. The last predator of real quality the Iberian nation produced was Pedro Pauleta. The goalscorer from the Azores made a name for himself in Spain and especially France, at Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain. His 47 goals in 88 games for the national team until 2006 made him the best Portugal striker until a certain Cristiano Ronaldo blew away that record with 49 goals in 109 matches. Portugal seem unable to produce strikers with the quality of their wingers or midfielders. The last predator of real quality the Iberian nation produced was Pedro Pauleta. The goalscorer from the Azores made a name for himself in Spain and especially France, at Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain. His 47 goals in 88 games for the national team until 2006 made him the top Portugal goalscorer until Cristiano Ronaldo blew away that record with 49 goals in 109 matches.
Yet Pauleta drew a mixed reaction from Portuguese fans, used to technical and eye-catching strikers. The Azores Cyclone did one simple thing and little else: he scored goals and that did not seem enough. Nuno Gomes, who retired last year, had more charisma and performed with distinction for Benfica and the national team, but he was not as good as Pauleta. Yet Pauleta drew a mixed reaction from Portuguese fans, used to technical and eye-catching strikers. The “Azores Cyclone” did one simple thing and little else: he scored goals and that did not seem enough. Nuno Gomes, who retired last year, had more charisma and performed with distinction for Benfica and the national team, but he was not as good as Pauleta.
So what has happened since Eusébio shined with such intensity at the 1966 World Cup? “I think it’s a structural problem,” says the former Portugal striker Jorge Cadete, who had a good spell at Celtic in 1996. “It’s funny that many coaches complain about the problems in scoring goals and I’ve been speaking over the years about the necessity of setting up specific trainers to strikers, as happens with goalkeepers.”So what has happened since Eusébio shined with such intensity at the 1966 World Cup? “I think it’s a structural problem,” says the former Portugal striker Jorge Cadete, who had a good spell at Celtic in 1996. “It’s funny that many coaches complain about the problems in scoring goals and I’ve been speaking over the years about the necessity of setting up specific trainers to strikers, as happens with goalkeepers.”
Another striker from the 90s, Domingos Paciência, the idol of André Villas-Boas at Porto, had trouble breaking into the national team. “It’s true that the Portuguese aren’t especially tall and strong,” he says, “but I developed other qualities and the scoring instinct.” Curiously, one of Portugal’s big hopes for the future is Gonçalo Paciência, the son of Domingos, now 19 years old and playing in Porto’s reserve team. Another striker from the 90s, Porto’s Domingos Paciência, the idol of André Villas-Boas, had trouble breaking into the national team. “It’s true that the Portuguese aren’t especially tall and strong,” he says, “but I developed other qualities and the scoring instinct.” Curiously, one of Portugal’s big hopes for the future is Gonçalo Paciência, the son of Domingos, now 19 years old and playing in Porto’s reserve team.
Gonçalo follows in the footsteps of his father and hopefully will join the ranks of such national goalscoring idols as Luís Figo, Rui Costa, João Pinto and Ronaldo, players who were offensive midfielders, wingers and second forwards, not outright strikers. Gonçalo is following in the footsteps of his father and will hopefully join the ranks of such national goalscoring idols as Luís Figo, Rui Costa, João Pinto and Ronaldo, players who were offensive midfielders, wingers and second forwards, not outright strikers.
As Domingos points out, the Portuguese are not usually tall or strong but those who are tend to end up as defenders. The Portuguese FA is trying to invert the logic but it might take some time before an old-school striker emerges.As Domingos points out, the Portuguese are not usually tall or strong but those who are tend to end up as defenders. The Portuguese FA is trying to invert the logic but it might take some time before an old-school striker emerges.
At Euro 2012, Portugal reached the semi-finals with six goals in five matches, only one of which was scored by a striker (Postiga). At this World Cup, Portugal are on the brink of going home after two games and their two goals have come from wingers, Nani and Silvestre Varela.At Euro 2012, Portugal reached the semi-finals with six goals in five matches, only one of which was scored by a striker (Postiga). At this World Cup, Portugal are on the brink of going home after two games and their two goals have come from wingers, Nani and Silvestre Varela.
When Ronaldo fails to score, the striker deficit becomes more apparent and the fans’ thoughts turn to Bébé, the United flop who has showed, finally, his goal talents in the national League. When Ronaldo fails to score, the striker deficit becomes more apparent and the fans’ thoughts turn to Bébé, the United flop who has shown, finally, his goal talents in the national League.
Vítor Hugo Alvarenga is a journalist for MaisfutebolVítor Hugo Alvarenga is a journalist for Maisfutebol