THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
COPENHAGEN — Portugal badly needs a victory over Group 1 leader Denmark on Saturday to have a realistic chance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup.
The Danes beat Portugal last year, scoring three goals in the last eight minutes to win 3-2. Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho said that unexpected defeat unsettled the Portuguese.
"That game left its mark on us," Carvalho said. "We’re under a lot of pressure now."
The Portuguese team has won just two of its six qualifying matches, leaving the team with only nine points from six matches. Denmark leads the group with 16 points, followed by Hungary with 13. Sweden also has nine points.
Portugal has struggled since Carlos Queiroz took over as coach from Luiz Felipe Scolari last year, slipping from ninth to 17th in the FIFA rankings.
"There’s not much to say. We have to win. That’s it," Portugal playmaker Deco said. "We’d have liked to have been in a more comfortable position at this point, but we can still do it and we have to win these upcoming matches."
With Portugal forward Hugo Almeida injured, Liedson could lead the attack, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo to play on the wing.
"The team has some very experienced players and it’s well-balanced," Liedson said.
Denmark will use a mix of players for the match, including veterans Martin Jorgensen, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Nicklas Bendtner. Less experienced players are Simon Kjaer, Jakob Poulsen, Thomas Augustinussen, Johan Absalonsen and Lasse Schone.
But they all know who to watch out for on the other side.
Ronaldo "is one of the world’s best so we have to make sure he doesn’t get any space to work in," said Kjaer, a defender who considered to be a rising star.
Denmark, however, has been plagued with injuries and last-minute dropouts. The team is missing goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen because of a suspension, and Thomas Kahlenberg, Leon Andreasen, Daniel Jensen and Daniel Agger are injured.
The visitors certainly believe a win in Copenhagen is within reach.
"Portugal has been playing well but we just haven’t been able to put the ball in the net," Liedson said. "We just need that little bit of luck and I hope we get it because we have to win the next two games to stay on track for the World Cup."