Posted by ESPN Stats & Information
Spain versus Portugal, Tuesday
Green Point Stadium -- Cape Town
Storylines
• Familiar foes: Seven members of the Portugal squad play in La Liga, and there are 14 holdovers from the squads that met six years ago at Euro 2004, a game Portugal won 1-0.
• Portugal yellow card peril: Cristiano Ronaldo and six other Portugal players are on yellow cards entering this game. (Spain has yet to receive one.)
• David Villa: Spain's striker is finally emerging from the shadows of his more celebrated strike partner Fernando Torres with his spectacular goals and matador celebration.
• Torres: The Liverpool superstar hasn't looked at his sharpest here, having had knee surgery in April. Some talk that he won't start against Portugal, but it would be a big surprise if he didn't.
• Penalty kicks: Spain's record in PKs is 1-2 at the World Cup. At Euro 2008, Spain beat Italy on PKs in the quarterfinals. Portugal beat England in the 2006 quarterfinals on PKs.
Series history
• Spain leads 15-5-12, but they've played only six times in the past 20 years. Five of the past seven games ended in draws. Last met in Euro 2004, with Portugal winning 1-0.
What to look for
• Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo has played well, but has yet to dominate. This game provides the perfect opportunity for him to put his stamp on the finals. With Xabi Alonso an injury doubt for Spain, Ronaldo will most likely be facing two of his Real Madrid teammates in goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defender Sergio Ramos.
• Against the Ivory Coast and Brazil, Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz seemed to play for the scoreless draw and got it. It's unlikely he will be more adventurous against the potent Spain offense.
• One man's negative football is another's superb defense. Portugal posted three shutouts in Group G, a feat matched only by Uruguay.
• Chelsea midfielder Deco missed the North Korea and Brazil games due to a hip injury but is available for this game. Thiago has been outstanding in Deco's absence and is likely to keep the Chelsea man on the bench.
From the research room
• Since the FIFA Rankings were first published in 1992 until this past week there had been only one World Cup match between teams both rated in the top three by FIFA: Brazil (No. 3) defeated the Netherlands (No. 2) in the 1994 quarterfinals. But in the span of five days, Portugal, which is ranked third, will have faced No. 1 Brazil and No. 2 Spain.
• Portugal has conceded just one goal in its past 12 internationals.
• Despite appearing for only 118 minutes in the group stages, Spanish winger Jesus Navas attempted 40 crosses from open play, 18 more than any other player.
• The role Ronaldo has to fill in the Portuguese team under Carlos Queiroz is not one to be envied. The coach has sacrificed attacking firepower for a more solid and rigid defense, employing Ronaldo as a lone striker where he is regularly without support up front, meaning he is often forced to shoot from distance.
Most shots from outside the box in group stage:
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, 11
Asamoah Gyan, Ghana, 8
Jong Tae-Se, North Korea, 8
Lionel Messi, Argentina, 8
Riccardo Montolivo, Italy, 7