[Locke]

This is going to be an interesting game.

In the group stage Portugal went into the game with Germany as underdogs that were fully expected to lose, and they didnt disappoint. But as such they played defensively and worked the counter.

Against Denmark the two teams were effectively even and the game played out as such and eventually turned into a shootout.

When they played Holland they were once again the underdogs, but against a very poor and desperate Holland and they managed to get the win. It wasnt really convincing but it wasnt undeserved either.

Today they go against the Czechs who, while not as talented or stacked as the Portuguese team, nor having a guy like Ronaldo (Baros doesnt count, bring back Koller or Poborsky) they are better organized than the Danes or Dutch and I expect them to be the defensively toughest team Portugal has faced since Germany.

That said, what I expect to see here is the Czechs defending while the Portuguese attack and then the Czechs will look to hit them on the counter. What makes the engagement even more interesting is the fact that the Czechs' strength lies on the same side as the Portuguese's weakness, but the same could be said both ways.

The Czechs love to attack down their right, and collect attack minded players on that side while the Portuguese love to attack down their left and have been playing Ronaldo and Coentrao on that flank.

Its going to be interesting.