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Portugal in Montevideo in desperate hope

Friday 23rd March 2007

Portugal are in Montevideo to play Uruguay in the last World Cup qualifier for 2007.

The Lobos have taken with them a slender lead of seven points after beating the Teros 12-5 in Lisbon earlier in the month. Eager home support and the warm weather could well destroy that lead.

The winner of the two legs will join the pool containing New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania. Uruguay have been to the World Cup twice before, Portugal not at all.

The Uruguayan squad is unknown but three of the players who play for Montauban will not be doing so as they have headed home for the match - Carlos Bado, Pablo Lemoine and Nicolás Brignoni.

Portugal have four players in their squad who did not play in the first leg - Francisco Mira, Duarte Gois, Diogo Mateus and experienced front-ranker Rui Cordeiro.

Portuguese squad: Joaquim Ferreira, Gonçalo Malheiro, Marcelo D'Orey, Cardoso Pinto, Pedro Leal, Francisco Mira, Vasco Uva, Diogo Gama, Gustavo Duarte, Juan Severin, Luis Pissarra, Miguel Portela, Duarte Gois, João Uva, Diogo Mateus, Gonçalo Uva, João Correia, Rui Cordeiro, André da Silva, David Penalva, Pedro Carvalho, José Pinto, Paulo Murinello, Diogo Coutinho.

The Uruguayan squad for the first leg was:

Forwards: Sebastián Aguirre, Juan Miguel Álvarez, Carlos Arboleya, Juan Carlos Bado, Rodrigo Capó, Federico Capó, Pablo Lemoine, Juan Pérez, Carlos Protasi, Rodrigo Sánchez, Guillermo Storace

Backs: Diego Aguirre, Rafael Álvarez, Matías Arocena, Nicolás Brignoni, Francisco Bulanti, Juan Campomar, Joaquín De Freitas, Alfredo Giuria, Juan Labat, Juan Martín Llovet, Juan Menchaca, Joaquín Pastore, Hernán Ponte

Date: Saturday, 24 March 2007
Kick-off: 15.30 (local time)
Venue: Parque Central, Montevideo
Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high of 23°C, dropping to 16°C and a light wind.
Referee: Tony Spreadbury
Touch judges: Roy Maybank, Robin Goodliffe