The saliva is already pooling on the floor in Cape Town as mouths water ahead of the first ever World Cup match between neighbours Spain and Portugal, who meet on Tuesday evening in the final Round of 16 match.
Much is expected of the game, which will pit the likes of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco against Xavi Hernandez and the on-fire David Villa in Cape Town’s Green Point stadium. But there is a chance that the free-flowing, high-scoring game the game promises on paper will fail to materialize.
Spain cast off their reputation as big-tournament chokers when they won the 2008 European Championships, and came into the World Cup as joint-favourites with Brazil.
Yet their star-studded squad has so far not fulfilled its attacking potential, while Portugal have proven stingy in defence. Wins over Honduras (2-0) and ten-man Chile (2-1) saw Spain through at the top of Group H despite a shock 0-1 defeat to Switzerland in the opening game.
Striker Fernando Torres has been a pale imitation of his old self, and Spain have had to rely on David Villa, who has scored three of their four goals so far. Portugal have taken notice.
“We know that Spain had some difficulties in their first games,” Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles said. “We have to play to win.” If Torres has struggled to score against less-illustrious opposition, he is likely to find the going tougher against a Portugal yet to concede a goal despite being in Group of Death.
Neither Brazil, Ivory Coast nor North Korea could breach the rearguard of Portugal, but the side has struggled to score — which may seem an odd statement for a team with seven goals from three games. — DPA