Unbeaten Portugal Now Cup Favourite

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 13

Unbeaten Portugal Now Cup Favourite

(N.Z.P A. Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. Portugal, which has taken over from Brazil and England as favourite for the World Cup, appears to have by far the easiest task in tomorrow’s quarter-finals.

Portugal meets North Korea, whose presence in the last eight of the competition for the Jules Rimet Trophy, remains the tournament’s biggest surprise.

The winner of this match will play either England or Argentina in the semi-finals. The other quarter-finals, following the completion yesterday of the preliminary groups, are between West Germany and Uruguay and Russia and Hungary. Well-drilled Russians North Korea’s quarter-final place became assured when it finished runner-up in group four after Russia had defeated Chile, 2-1. The Soviet Union, the only side apart from Portugal to gain maximum points, again looked a well-drilled team as it halted the Chilean challenge. The Russian side, with nine changes, carried too much power, and two goals from V. Porkujan brought its third successive victory. Chile’s goal, scored by R. Marcos, was the first against the Russians in the competition. The Chileans hammered away at the rather shaky Russian defence but lack of finishing power, especially in the second half, cost it victory. Chances went begging as the Russian defence was inclined to panic. Not Conceded Goal

England finished on top of group one after beating France, 2-0, and was the only team not to concede a goal in the group fixtures. However, it suffered one serious blow when its insideforward, J. Greaves, was limping with two stitches in a gash in his left leg. He is a doubtful starter for . the quarterfinals.

Two goals from the insideleft, R. Hunt, gave England victory. Again it failed to produce its best form, but looked sharper than in earlier matches. Injuries to Simon and Herbin handicapped France. Defence Tested England’s defence—its main weapon—was often severely tested by the hard-running Frenchmen and the forwards again tailed to combine effectively. Both of England’s goals were unconvincing. Hunt must have been almost offside when he scored the first from a header by J. Charlton. Hunt drove in the second goal in the seventy-fifth minute while the Frenchmen were pleading with the Peruvian referee, Mr A. Yamasaki, to stop play to attend to the Injured Simon. R. Charlton netted what appeared to be a perfectly good goal in the sixty-sixth minute, but he was ruled offside.

Argentina’s strength has also been shown to lie in defence, so with the quarterfinals being decided on a straight knock-out principle, the key to this clash between England and Argentina will rest with the forwards. Argentina finished second in group two after West Germany headed it on goal average after beating Spain, 2-1, yesterday. Spain played with tremendous spirit but finally went down when U. Seeler notched the winning goal six minutes from the end. Earlier, J. Fuste had opened the scoring after 25 minutes before L. Emmerich equalised 12 minutes later. Now the fast moving West German attack will be pitted against the defensively-mind-ed Uruguayans tomorrow in what promises to be a thrilling duel. Hungary, which beat Bui-

garia, 3-1, to reach the quarter-finals, ensuring Brazil’s elimination, will need all its newly-found enterprise against the Russians. Hungary recovered from a goal scored by Bulgaria in the fourteenth minute, and two i goals in two minutes just be- ■ fore half-time put it on the ■ road to victory. Hungary , added a third in the second half. The game was open and fast ; throughout and Hungary genI erally dominated. Its inter- ; changing forwards caused con- . siderable trouble in the Bub ; garian defence, while its rear- • guard, after a very shaky ; opening, found the way to deal with G. Asparuhov and t in the second half was rarely I troubled. Hungary deserved its win, i if only for its greater poise ■ and technique in attack, but its defence looked especially • suspect, and will need tightening before meeting Russia. Asparukov scored for Bulgaria and I. Davidov, K. Meszoly and F. Bene for Hungary. The draw for the quarterfinals is: England v. Argentina, at Wembley; West Germany v. Uruguay, at Sheffield; Portugal v. North Korea, at Liverpool; Russia v. Hungary, at Sunderland.

Globetrotters Coming (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. The Harlem Globetrotters, the United States Negro basketball organisation, will send its international touring team to New Zealand early in 1968. The visit has been confirmed by Miss M. Linehan, the secretary of the Globetrotters, in a letter to the Auckland Public Relations office.