Portugal and Brazil are in the early hours of Sunday 2:00 a.m. at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton. The winner has assured place in the semi-finals of the World Cup in New Zealand.
The confrontation between favorites such as New Zealanders newspapers point out, adding Germany to the lot stronger teams in New Zealand, is not new to the two countries. Portugal, world champion in 1989 and 1991, and Brazil, five-time champion world in1983, 1985, 1993, 2003 and 2011, have met four times in the final stages of the World.
Just for once, the winner of a match between these two nations not crowned world champion - in Qatar, where Brazil eliminated Portugal in the semi-final 1-0 with a goal scored in the last minutes before nine Portuguese, but which eventually lost to Argentina in the final.
In 1989, 1991 and 2011, we repeat, the winner of this duel has won the world champion. Let's go back. Saudi Arabia, 1989. A team that has on Hélio Sousa, current national coach, the boss of the midfield faces Brazil in the semi-finals. A solitary goal from Amaral Portugal qualify for the final which will beat Nigeria and win his first title of the story.
Two years later we are in Lisbon in new World Cup final. The Stadium of Light has the highest flood in the history of World Championships. FIFA today marks the record in 126,000 spectators. Portugal, where pontificate Brassard, Fish, Figo and João Pinto, no one can excel in regulation time to Brazil Elber, Paulo Nunes or Marquinhos.
In the decision on penalties do not hear a mosquito when Rui Costa partly to the ball. The rest can be seen already blurred television images. The average Portuguese to celebrate the world championship clinging to old grills Stadium of Light.
The fourth meeting between two of the three teams with the best resume in World - only Argentina surpasses Portugal and Brazil with six titles - we knew that this was going to be champion. We are in Colombia in 2011, and you play the World Cup final. Generation Courage, as it was dubbed the National Team faces a Brazil full of talent - all experts share the view of the Brazilian team in 2011 as one of the best ever, and even waived the star Neymar in the race eve.
Portugal, led by Ilídio Vale and Helio Sousa as assistant coach, hardly comes into play. Oscar, one of the current stars of Chelsea, marks the fifth minute. Alex restores equality in the ninth. An epic battle, Nelson Oliveira put Portugal ahead in the second half. When there are 12 minutes to lift Portugal for the third time will bowl, Brazil equalized again for Oscar.
The extension in the Nemesio Camacho, Bogota, will be fatal to one of the bravest Portuguese selections. Oscar makes hat-trick to 111. Portugal defers the dream.
Portugal and Brazil clashed many times in friendly matches or the Toulon Tournament - records indicate four Brazilian wins, two Portuguese and two draws - but none of these games is the symbolism and the World watermark.
Sunday, 02.00, giants duel in Hamilton apart. A game for the story.
Portugal roster and teams
Guarda-redes – André Moreira (Moreirense FC), Guilherme Oliveira (Sporting) e Tiago Sá (SC Braga);
Defesas – Dinis Almeida (CF Réus), Domingos Duarte (Sporting), João Nunes (Benfica), Mauro Riquicho (Sporting), Rafa (FC Porto) e Rebocho (Benfica);
Médios – Estrela (Orlando City), Francisco Ramos (FC Porto), Janio Bikel (SC Heerenveen), Raphal Guzzo (GD Chaves), Rony Lopes (Lille OSC) e Tomás Podstawski (FC Porto);
Avançados – André Silva (FC Porto), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Gonçalo Guedes (Benfica), Ivo Rodrigues (Vitória SC), João Vigário (Vitória SC) e Nuno Santos (Benfica).
Do quarto encontro entre duas das três seleções com melhor currículo em Mundiais - só a Argentina supera Portugal e Brasil com seis títulos - já se sabia que ia dar campeão. Estamos na Colômbia, em 2011, e joga-se a final do Mundial. A Geração Coragem, como foi apelidada a Seleção Nacional, enfrenta um Brasil cheio de talento - todos os especialistas são unânimes em considerar a seleção brasileira de 2011 como uma das melhores de sempre, mesmo tendo prescindido da estrela Neymar em vésperas da prova.
Portugal, liderado por Ilídio Vale e com Hélio Sousa como treinador adjunto, entra mal no jogo. Óscar, uma das estrelas atuais do Chelsea, marca aos cinco minutos. Alex repõe a igualdade aos nove. Numa batalha épica, Nelson Oliveira coloca Portugal em vantagem no segundo tempo. Quando faltam 12 minutos para Portugal levantar pela terceira vez á taça, o Brasil empata novamente por Óscar.
O prolongamento no Nemésio Camacho, em Bogotá, será funesto para uma das mais valentes seleções portuguesas. Óscar faz o hat-trick aos 111. Portugal adia o sonho.
Portugal e Brasil enfrentaram-se muitas outras vezes em jogos particulares ou no Torneio de Toulon - os registos apontam quatro vitórias brasileiras, duas portuguesas e dois empates - mas nenhum deste jogos tem o simbolismo e a marca de água do Mundial.
Domingo, às 02h00, duelo de gigantes na distante Hamilton. Um jogo para a história.
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