Portugal
Portugal
0 - 0
Brazil
Group G, 14:00 GMT, June 25, 2010
Durban Stadium
HALF TIME A disappointing first half, surely it has to get better after the break?
Cristiano Ronaldo has been having some truly awful shots at goal. The latest is speculative to say the least, going well wide.
ONE MINUTE ADDED TIME
Coentrao booked for a fairly tame challenge on Dani Alves.
A strange substitution, it could be Dunga protecting Melo from picking up a yellow card.
Josue on for Felipe Melo
This game is getting really scrappy now. Melo the latest player to commit a cynical foul, Brazil are preparing a substitute...
Brazil's Nilmar and Portugal's Tiago challenge for the ball.Ronaldo finally gets a shot on target, his 35-yard effort skimming across the ground and straight at Julio Cesar.
ESPN Stats & Info: Brazil have only failed to score twice in their last 21 World Cup matches (both against France).
Pepe is lucky there, some referee's may have red carded him for that challenge.
Pepe goes into the book for a nasty challenge on Fabiano.
First chance for Fabiano. Maicon digs a cross out from by the corner flag, his hanging cross is met by Fabiano who can only guide it wide.
Comical defending from Portugal. Nilmar's ball in is blocked by Costa, Carvalho comes across the clear, but only succeeds in knocking over his team-mate. The result is a Brazil throw in.
Good footwork from Nilmar, collecting a ball from Lucio he flicks the ball over Costa, before sending his half volley high and wide.
ESPN Stats & Info: Brazil have lost just one of their 32 World Cup first round matches since 1966.
Pepe brings down Baptista. The Beast was on the charge until the Real Madrid man brought him down.
ESPN Stats & Info: The only time these sides met in a World Cup was in 1966. Portugal won 3-1.
ESPN Stats & Info: Brazil have won 12 of their 18 encounters against Portugal, losing four and drawing two.
Ronaldo races clear and takes the ball round Cesar, only to see the linesman's flag raised. Only just offside though.
Tiago goes down in the box and the referee blows his whistle.....only to show Tiago a yellow card. A clear dive. The referee is having a good game.
Off the bar from Nilmar! His effort from six yards is turned onto the bar from Eduardo and bounces down onto the goal line before being cleared.
Once again, the corner is headed clear. Alves is better than this.
Another Brazil corner, can Alves get a good ball in the box?
A first flurry from Ronaldo, ducking a couple of challenges before biting off more than he can chew with Felipe Melo.
You do worry that this tournament may be remembered for the various ways in which footballers have tried to get their fellow professionals in the book.
Cristiano Ronaldo completely wastes the free kick, blasting the ball about 30 yards over the crossbar.
Duda joins him for chasing down the referee. Strong refereeing.
Juan in the book for handball.
The corner is cleared to Michel Bastos, who unleashes a wild volley into a crowd of bodies which is harmlessly cleared.
Fabiano spins on the edge of the box and his shot blocked and goes for a corner.
Brazil playing like a team that know their through and seem to be going through the motions. You'd expect a bit more urgency from Portugal.
Of course the Ivory Coast need a Brazil goal to stand any chance of going through. At the moment it's not looking likely.
2-0 Ivory Coast! A Brazil goal and it might get interesting.
Portugal are growing into this one. Coentrao again with a thrusting run, the ball eventually being chipped to Tiago on the edge of the box who lashes his volley narrowly over.
Luis Fabiano is the first player in the book for a late challenge on Pepe.
A fabulous burst from Coentrao down the left, skipping past Maicon and whipping in a dangerous cross. Cesar manages to punch clear.
Goal for the Ivory Coast. Maybe, just maybe, Portugal might have to start looking over their shoulder...
This Brazil team may lack some of the flair of their predecessors, but in Melo and Gilberto Silva they have a rock solid midfield.
The game is still to come to life, neither side creating a real opportunity as yet.
Cristiano Ronaldo with an audacious effort from nearer the half-way line than the goal. It travelled about one yard before being blocked by the defender.
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Fantastic link up play from Fabiano and Maicon. The full back just being beaten to the ball by Coentrao.
Brazil are controlling possession early on, Portugal haven't really got out of their own half yet.
Almost for Dani Alves! He picks up the ball 25-yards out, let's fly and the ball skips just wide.
The match as started at a real pace, both teams looking to move the ball quickly and get forward.
First foul of the game. Lovely foot work from Danny, Bastos can only dangle out a leg and bring him down.
Again the corner is cleared at the near post, two poor deliveries from Dani Alves.
Mereiles clears the corner well, but Brazil are quickly back on the attack and Nilmar earns another corner.
Brazil on the front foot from the off, an early corner for Portugal to defend.
KICK OFF Brazil get us under way!
The teams are in the tunnel, almost time to get this one started.
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ESPN Stats & Info: Brazil have won 12 of their 18 encounters against Portugal, losing four and drawing twice. The only World Cup encounter between these two sides was won by Portugal, 3-1 in 1966.
For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo starts at the head of the attack, meaning there is no place for Hugo Almeida or Liedson. Danny comes in for Simao, while Duda and Pepe also come into the starting line up.
For Brazil, Nilmar, Dani Alves and Julio Baptista are in for the suspended Kaka, the injured Elano and the rested Robinho.
Although Brazil have already sealed qualification, and barring a miracle Portugal will be joining them in the last 16, there is still more than enough quality on the pitch to make this one of the most entertaining games of the tournament.
What a game we have on our hands in Durban. Since the World Cup draw was made in December, football fans all over the world will have been looking forward to this one. It's five-time World Champions Brazil up against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.
Join us at 14.00 GMT to see if Brazil can get the draw they need to finish top of the group.
At half time, it's looking like this group is decided. Although, a goal for Brazil and couple of early goals in the second half for Ivory Coast and it might get interesting.