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| Funtik the pig predicts Portugal will imerge winner in the Euro 2012 semi-final match between Spain and Portugal (Photo: Reuters) |
Funtik the pig predicts the result of the Euro 2012 semi-final soccer match between Spain and Portugal, by choosing the food plate with Portugal flag, at the fan zone in Kiev.
Portugal meets Spain on Wednesday in the Euro 2012 semi-finals. Pressure mounts for both players and fans ahead of the match.
At the quarter-finals Portugal’s Ronaldo scored one goal knocking out the Czech republic. Spain thrashed France 2-0 to advance to the much-anticipated semi-final game. Pressure mounts for both players and fans ahead of the match.
Team News
Portugal striker Helder Postiga is ruled out with a thigh injury, meaning coach Paulo Bento will be unable to name an unchanged side for a fifth successive match.
Postiga is expected to be replaced by Besiktas forward Hugo Almeida.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque reported no new injury problems following victory against France.
However, Fernando Torres and Pedro may be in line to start following claims the Spanish camp are "drained".
Match Preview
Spain know better than most that Portugal are more than just a one-man team, even if Cristiano Ronaldo invariably hogs the headlines.
Portugal thrashed the reigning world and European champions 4-0 in their last meeting, in November 2010; Ronaldo was not amongst the scorers, and was rested in the second half, when the hosts netted three of their four goals, condemning Spain to their heaviest defeat since a 6-2 loss to Scotland in 1963.
And while the match was a friendly, the Spanish were by no means under strength - they included 10 of the side who started the World Cup final, plus David Silva.
Ronaldo was denied a memorable solo goal in the 4-0 win, finishing a jinking run with an audacious lob - only for Nani to unnecessarily head the ball in on the goal-line from an offside position.
Clearly infuriated, Ronaldo reacted by hurling the captain's armband at the turf. The 27-year-old, who has adopted a shoot-on-sight policy at Euro 2012, knows that his legacy depends on reproducing his scintillating club at international level.
The world's second greatest player has failed to score in three previous appearances against Spain, including an anonymous display at the 2010 World Cup. In contrast, his great rival Lionel Messi has netted twice in three games against the Spanish.
