Soccer giants renew friendly rivalry
Soccer giants renew friendly rivalry
Brazil, Portugal, France, Argentina, England and Spain all will feature in the international friendlies in the next 2 days.

New Delhi: The next two days promise a feast for the football fans with Brazil, Portugal, France, Argentina, England and Spain scheduled to play international soccer friendlies.

The Brazilian team is training at the Emirates Stadium in London ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Portugal.

The match will be Brazilian coach Dunga's most difficult since he took charge of the team and pits him against Luis Felipe Scolari.

Scolari is the man who guided Brazil to their fifth World Cup triumph in 2002.

Portugal won their last meeting with Brazil 2-1. With Ronaldinho not playing due to an injury, Brazil's chances of revenge have been hampered.

The Brazilians also face Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo who is in the form of his life after scoring his 15th Premiership goal on Sunday against Tottenham.

"It's important that Portugal stay at the top. I think that from 2004 until now, Portugal is better now, (reaching) third place in the World Cup. I think that this is very good for Portugal, for the players, and that this gives you more confidence to work more and better for the future. I think this is great, and we need to carry on," Protugal midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo said.

In the other match England face Spain in Manchester and are likely to play under Steven Gerrard.

With the fans getting increasingly frustrated with the team's results after the World Cup, Gerrard is sure the English team must work harder to improve its chances of reaching the Euro 2008 finals.

"It will mean an awful lot, just putting on an England shirt and not being a captain is a very proud moment and you feel very honoured, but to walk out at the front and to lead the boys out into battle will be that extra bit special," Gerrard said.

France coach Raymond Domenech, meanwhile, will be forced to field a makeshift defence for the friendly against Argentina.

William Gallas is injured and so is his usual replacement Jean-Alain Boumsong. While Argentina will aim to win their first game under coach Alfio Basile.

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