Portugal receive double boost

Alves and Deco fit to face Bosnia

Last updated: 17th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Portugal receive double boost

Alves: Recovered from injury

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Bruno Alves and Deco will both be fit to play for Portugal in the second leg of their World Cup play-off.

Carlos Queiroz's men hold a slender 1-0 advantage ahead of Wednesday's match at the Bilino Polje stadium in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Defender Alves scored the only goal of the game in Portugal at the weekend but has been nursing an ankle injury, while Chelsea midfielder Deco suffered a minor groin problem.

Both players have recovered and Alves hopes to be selected in the starting XI.

"I trained (on Tuesday), I felt good and am ready to play if the coach picks me," said the Porto centre-back.

The tie might remain delicately poised but Portugal boss Queiroz believes the pressure will be on Bosnia to force the issue.

"Now they will see that playing at home the margin of risk can lead to mistakes, and so it is not possible to attack and leave space at the back without creating scoring opportunities for the opponent," said Queiroz.

Portugal captain Simao Sabrosa, meanwhile, has raised concerns about the state of the playing surface.

"We're going to find a very complicated pitch. In football everyone wants a show but that's going to be complicated tomorrow. We're going to have to adapt," said Simao.