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Blog: Brazil 2014 to come alive with Portuguese passion

Portugal has long been a passionate football nation and its love affair with the World Cup started in 1966 when - in the national team's first appearance - it finished third, writes Vitor Sobral

Ronaldo_141104-AAP.JPG
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. (AAP)

The up-and-coming tournament in Brazil will be an extra-special occasion for the Portuguese, who have deep cultural and historical links with the host nation.

"It's good because it's in Brazil, the language is the same, everyone speaks Portuguese, so I think they will have a bit more determination behind them," said Portuguese Australian Sandro Frade.

Adding extra significance to the occasion will be the memory of Portugal’s greatest player, and star of 1966 tournament, Eusebio.

A Portuguese hero for half a century, Eusebio's death in January was met with nationwide mourning.

Brazil 2014 will be the first time Portugal appears at the World Cup without the man widely known as the "black panther".

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"They'll use that as motivation as well to get behind and do it for Eusebio because as most people know, he was a very important figure in the national side and he was always there with them," Mr Frade said.

This time the seleccao will be resting its hopes on Real Madrid superstar and 2013 world player of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo.

It was his goals that led the Portuguese to Brazil and the national team's passionate supporters believe he will be the key to success.

"If he takes the form that he's into the World Cup I reckon we can go very far," Mr Frade said.  "I don't like setting off the fireworks before the party but I reckon we can go far."

Brazil 2014 is set to be lit up by Ronaldo's goals and Portuguese passion. 


2 min read

Published

Updated

By Vitor Sobral


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