Quarter-Final preview: Germany v Portugal
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The first quarter final of Euro 2008 gets underway with pre-tournament favourites Portugal and Germany confront at St Jakob-Park in Basel.
The Germans play Portugal with some disadvantages on their side, having the absence of their coach Joachim Löw from the touchline and injuries problems on Torsten Frings and Lukas Podolski.
Meanwhile Portugal, had five days more rest than Germany since qualifying as Group A winners and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari used a majority of second-string players when they met Switzerland, which they lost 2-0.
Germany started the tournament as one of the main favourites, but have failed to fulfill the expectation and only finished as runner-up in Group B.
Now they will face Portugal with two major worries, having the possibility of missing midfield dynamo Frings and top scorer Podolski.
Frings, having suffered a broken rib in the previous match against Austria, is the midfield-partner for captain Michael Ballack, while Podolski scored almost all Germany's goals in the tournament.
Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said that both men will be given right up until the last possible moment before deciding whether Frings and Podolski were fit enough to play.
Another question remains the lack of form of Stuttgart's Mario Gómez.
Arguably the biggest disappointment of Germany so far, Gómez in particular has looked low with his confidence.
Whether his coach decides to take him out of the starting XI, or stick with him remains to be seen.
Despite his forwards goal scoring problem, it is Löw 's backline that raised another question marks.
The centre half duo Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder are showing lack of pace and mobility.
The attacking prowess of the Portuguese could make for a nightmare for the German back four.
Other handicap and probably most vital one for Germany, is the absence of der trainer Löw.
The former Stuttgart's coach has been handed a one-match ban from UEFA following his sending off against Austria.
His assistant Hansi Flick will take control of the team with no contact with Löw.
On the other hand, Portugal will be going into the match as favourites.
Coach Scolari will field the team that beat Turkey and Czech Republic in their first two group matches.
This will mean Ricardo Quaresma and also Nani, will be placed on the bench with Simão and Cristiano Ronaldo starting the match.
Portugal have world class players available, but they wish could have a prolific striker, a match winner.
Five goals scored by Portugal so far have been spread among five different players but none of them produced by strikers.
Nuno Gomes, Hélder Postiga or Hugo Almeida had not convincing in the crucial lone striker role that is so important in a 4-2-3-1 system.
One thing for Portugal to concern is about the big physical differences between the Portuguese and German players.
Scolari got that to worry about as he noted some of the taller German players. With the threat posed by the Germans, Scolari have to find someway of dealing with Germany's free kicks.
The last time these two powerhouses met was the 3rd place playoff of the 2006 World Cup.
The Germans, had home advantage to their rival, won 3-0 with two goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Possible line-up
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The Germans play Portugal with some disadvantages on their side, having the absence of their coach Joachim Löw from the touchline and injuries problems on Torsten Frings and Lukas Podolski.
Meanwhile Portugal, had five days more rest than Germany since qualifying as Group A winners and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari used a majority of second-string players when they met Switzerland, which they lost 2-0.
Germany started the tournament as one of the main favourites, but have failed to fulfill the expectation and only finished as runner-up in Group B.
Now they will face Portugal with two major worries, having the possibility of missing midfield dynamo Frings and top scorer Podolski.
Frings, having suffered a broken rib in the previous match against Austria, is the midfield-partner for captain Michael Ballack, while Podolski scored almost all Germany's goals in the tournament.
Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said that both men will be given right up until the last possible moment before deciding whether Frings and Podolski were fit enough to play.
Another question remains the lack of form of Stuttgart's Mario Gómez.
Arguably the biggest disappointment of Germany so far, Gómez in particular has looked low with his confidence.
Whether his coach decides to take him out of the starting XI, or stick with him remains to be seen.
Despite his forwards goal scoring problem, it is Löw 's backline that raised another question marks.
The centre half duo Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder are showing lack of pace and mobility.
The attacking prowess of the Portuguese could make for a nightmare for the German back four.
Other handicap and probably most vital one for Germany, is the absence of der trainer Löw.
The former Stuttgart's coach has been handed a one-match ban from UEFA following his sending off against Austria.
His assistant Hansi Flick will take control of the team with no contact with Löw.
On the other hand, Portugal will be going into the match as favourites.
Coach Scolari will field the team that beat Turkey and Czech Republic in their first two group matches.
This will mean Ricardo Quaresma and also Nani, will be placed on the bench with Simão and Cristiano Ronaldo starting the match.
Portugal have world class players available, but they wish could have a prolific striker, a match winner.
Five goals scored by Portugal so far have been spread among five different players but none of them produced by strikers.
Nuno Gomes, Hélder Postiga or Hugo Almeida had not convincing in the crucial lone striker role that is so important in a 4-2-3-1 system.
One thing for Portugal to concern is about the big physical differences between the Portuguese and German players.
Scolari got that to worry about as he noted some of the taller German players. With the threat posed by the Germans, Scolari have to find someway of dealing with Germany's free kicks.
The last time these two powerhouses met was the 3rd place playoff of the 2006 World Cup.
The Germans, had home advantage to their rival, won 3-0 with two goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Possible line-up
 | Germany |  | Portugal | |
| 1 | Lehmann | 1 | Ricardo | |
| 3 | Friedrich | 2 | Paulo Ferreira | |
| 7 | Schweinsteiger | 4 | Bosingwa | |
| 8 | Frings | 7 | Cristiano Ronaldo | |
| 9 | Gómez | 8 | Petit | |
| 11 | Klose | 10 | João Moutinho | |
| 13 | Ballack | 11 | Simão | |
| 16 | Lahm | 15 | Pepe | |
| 17 | Mertesacker | 16 | Ricardo Carvalho | |
| 20 | Podolski | 20 | Deco | |
| 21 | Metzelder | 21 | Nuno Gomes |
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