SERBIA: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conference by the Portuguese and Serbian teams as they prepare for their Euro 2008 qualifying match

A shock defeat to Kazakhstan has put Serbia under pressure to keep their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign on track against Portugal when they meet in a Group A match in Belgrade on Wednesday (March 28). Portugal are third in the eight-team group, level on 10 points from five matches with fourth-placed Serbia. Poland are top with 13 points from six matches followed by Finland with 11 from five. Portugal team spokesman Onofre Costa said Cristiano Ronaldo is doubtful for the clash after injuring his left heel in training. The Manchester United winger had ice strapped round his ankle and heel after twisting his foot and limping off the pitch. Portuguese defender Jorge Andrade is reserved on giving predictions on Wednesday's match with Serbia. "We always play to win, but we don't know (if) we can win every match, it is very important to qualify if draw result is enough I am ready to sign the paper", he said. Luiz Felipe Scolari, likely to field the side that thumped Belgium, is also seeking a win that would keep Portugal in a good position to reach next year finals in Austria and Switzerland. "I never tell the initial team before the match, and as for the Serbian team quality, they are the same as Portugal, they have same number of points, they play at home and they have a lot of good players. So it will be very difficult to win," Scolari said. Serbian coach Javier Clemente, who has faced strong criticism for his line-up and strategy against the Kazakhs, will welcome Stankovic's return from the one-match ban but will miss striker Nikola Zigic who was sent off against Kazakhstan. "I hope we will be better than our opponents and hopefully the result will show that. I truly believe we can beat Portugal, this is the only way to be satisfied," Serbian striker Marko Pantelic said.

ITN Source | March 28, 2007

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