BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Early Portugal goal will really get me cheering

The fact we've had no football since England's dismal exit on Sunday has provided me with plenty of time to ponder just who will get through the first semi-final.

Thank heavens Portugal have shown in the last couple of games that they are capable of competing with Spain because otherwise I would think a repeat final between the champions and Germany is on the cards.

And with a nice lump having been invested in Joachim Low's boys, I have a vested interest in Portugal getting the job done.

You are supposed to beat the best teams to win a tournament, but we shrewdies all know it doesn't work like that. You only have to beat the teams in front of you.

And I can't help thinking that Germany will have a much better chance of getting their mits on a trophy for the first time since 1996 if they face Portugal rather than the all-conquering Spaniards.

I'll be cheering them on but whether it happens or not is a completely different story.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been brilliant and is obviously Portugal's biggest threat, but they've got to get the ball first.

Spain's possession football has become hypnotic at times. I nodded off in the last 30 minutes of the game against France and was only woken from my slumbers when I saw Mrs B heading for the remote control.

But they have been grinding teams down and it's difficult not to see them getting to the final.

Unless Portugal can somehow grab the first goal. Then we really could have a game on our hands.