| Portugal is looking forward to the UEFA Cup final All tickets have been sold. This is exactly the announcement at Lisbon's José Alvalade stadium that greets late-arriving fans wanting to attend the UEFA Cup final match between Sporting and CSKA. Just for them, a giant television screen was installed on one of the central squares of the city. State television regularly announces that it will broadcast the game throughout the country. As local media emphasize, “the whole of Portugal has become a huge stadium.”
Police have already tested a security scheme at the green and white Alvalade stadium, carefully separating the seats of Russian fans from the Portuguese. It also introduced intensive patrols in the capital, where a “massive night celebration of the Portuguese team’s victory” is expected. “To finish the football season with dignity, Sporting simply has no other choice but to defeat CSKA,” the Portuguese press writes today.
Just recently, just last week, the dream of a “golden double” - becoming a national champion and winner of the UEFA Cup - heated the blood of Sporting’s players and coaches, creating unprecedented euphoria among the half a million fans of this Lisbon club, to which it counts itself. President of the Republic Jorge Sampaio. Of course! The “white-green” team hasn’t had such chances for more than 40 years. More precisely, since 1964. Sports fever even infected the Lisbon stock exchange: Sporting's share price jumped to a record high here - 3.67 euros per share.
However, reality, as often happens in life, quickly made its corrections. Half of the “golden double” dream disappeared like morning mist late last Saturday night. At the end of a tense and responsible game with the capital's Benfica, Sporting goalkeeper Ricardo made a mistake and conceded an own goal. Sporting lost, and now the championship title will go to Benfica or Porto. But tomorrow Sporting will have to fight for the rest of the dream.
After Saturday's defeat, team head coach Jose Pezeiro was outwardly calm. “We will win the match on Wednesday,” he invariably answered questions from television reporters about the prospects of the game with CSKA. And later, the management of Sporting introduced a complete blockade on all information about the team and individual players. Last week, at the only press conference in Alcochete, José Pezeiro told reporters: “We intend to win the UEFA Cup so that it remains in Portugal. And if we succeed, it will be the most important game in my entire coaching career.” I must add that not only for him personally. “For Sporting, winning the UEFA Cup means a wonderful end to the season, writing a glorious page in the club’s history and presenting a valuable gift to its fans. This is a great reward for all those who work at the club,” striker Sa Pinto told a Vremya Novostey correspondent.
According to Jose Pezeiro, Sporting is the favorite in tomorrow's match, as this team preaches offensive football and plays in its own stadium. In addition, it will be supported by 10 million Portuguese.” “Sporting has everything to beat CSKA. The match will be difficult as the Russians have a very good team. That’s why she reached the final,” says team captain Pedro Barbosa. “However, I believe that after 90 minutes of play I will pick up the UEFA Cup and lift it up.” “Winning the cup is a dream, it is the goal of any football player. And this was what Sporting lacked,” Barbosa assures.
However, not everyone is so optimistic. For example, midfielder Kustodiou believes that Sporting are not favorites in the game with CSKA. In his opinion, the smallest mistake, the smallest mistake in the game can be fatal. “In general, there are no favorites in the final matches, as these are special games. The team with the best organization and the most sports luck wins. I think that it is these small details that will decide the outcome of the match with CSKA,” the Sporting midfielder is confident. Custodiou is also joined by midfielder Miguel Garcia, who scored the decisive goal against AZ in the second semi-final match in Holland. “I have not yet carefully studied the game of CSKA. But I think they are a good team because they reached the UEFA Cup final,” he says.
It must be said that after CSKA's victory over Parma in the semi-finals of the Cup, opinions both in the management of Sporting and in general among football observers in Portugal were divided. Many would have preferred Sporting to face Parma in the final. The Portuguese had long hoped that Parma's protest would be accepted and the Italian club would come to Lisbon. After all, CSKA is coming to Portugal for the third time this season and showed itself to be a very “difficult and even difficult team” in the matches with Porto and Benfica.
In turn, goalkeeper Ricard doesn’t care who he plays against. “Do I expect a lot of own shots? “For me, it’s better if the Russians shoot past,” he answers the journalists with a smile. - I have already watched several CSKA games. This is a team whose main weapon is collective play. And therefore, among the CSKA players, I don’t single out anyone in particular, since the strength of this team is in its cohesion.” Alexander ZDITOVETSKY, Lisbon |
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