All Whites full of confidence ahead of Portugal clash

ST PETERSBURG: European champions Portugal will make changes to their line-up against New Zealand as they seek to make sure of a place in the semi-finals of the Fifa Confederations Cup.

Coach Fernando Santos wants to rest some players but was giving nothing away here on the eve of today’s Group A game (5pm SA time kick-off).

Whether Santos uses the opportunity in a match in which Portugal need a point to give Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo some time out remains to be seen.

But the coach said he was not thinking about the possible knock-out phase, with the focus solely on New Zealand.

Asked if Ronaldo would be among players rested, Santos said: ”I am not going to tell you who is going to play. I am not telling you if Cristiano is playing or not playing. There will be rotation.”

Defender Raphael Guerreiro is definitely out but could still take part in the tournament, Santos said. The Dortmund player’s injury suffered in the 1-0 defeat of Russia, at first thought to be an ankle fracture, was “fortunately not as serious as it seemed.”

Defender Eliseu, who has a heavy cold, remains a doubt.

Santos said he watched New Zealand and would be showing his players video scenes from their 2-1 defeat against Mexico.

“They complicated life a lot for Mexico,” he said. “The result could have been different. We will have to be on our toes because they can create surprises. We have to be vigilant.”

Defender Luis Neto, who plays for local side Zenit St Petersburg and is yet to feature in the tournament, said Portugal did not underestimate any opponent.

“We want finish the group on a high with victory which will allow us to finish top of the group,” he said.

New Zealand coach Anthony Hudson meanwhile said the Kiwis won’t be overawed by Portugal and want to leave the Confederations Cup with a victory.

After two defeats in two matches, New Zealand can no longer progress but every game against top opposition will help in their bid to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals.

Buoyed by the performance against Mexico, Hudson said Portugal would be just “another game” – but one the All Whites are eager to play.

“We trained this morning, there was not a slight sense that we are overawed by the occasion at all,” he said. “We can’t wait, we are looking forward to it. We will be ready by the time we get to tomorrow.”

Leeds striker and captain Chris Wood also praised the collective work ethic and spirit the side demonstrated against Mexico.

“If we play like the other night I have all the confidence in the world,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio has backed his team’s resilience to see them through to the semi-finals when they face hosts Russia today.

“To play in Russia, with 90 percent of the crowd supporting them, and also playing to qualify is an extraordinary scenario for Mexican football to show what it is capable of,” Osorio said.

“This is a game that we have been waiting for for a long time. If there is one thing this group of players has it’s resilience, the desire to win and to do things well.”

Mexico are top of Group A with the same points as Portugal but with a better goal difference. They only need a draw to reach the semi-finals. Russia need to win to secure a place in the last four. A draw would only see them through in the unlikely event of Portugal losing against New Zealand. – DPA